Reading, Berkshire-based Kurzweil Computer Products Ltd, a member of Xerox Imaging Systems Inc group, has launched the K-5200 Intelligent Scanning System, launched in the US in June (CI No 1,439). An upgrade from Kurzweil’s K-5100 model, in terms of speed and accuracy, the new document scanning system features a proprietary intelligent character recognition unit based on the Advanced Micro Devices Inc Am29000 RISC, backed with 6Mb for fast throughput, and it offers up to a 400% improved performance over prior products, Kurzweil claims. The RISC processor is housed in a small box which sits between the scanner and the personal computer – this unit performs background scanning independently of the computer’s processor. The new model is designed for use with AT-alikes and is connected via an SCSI controller. The K-5200 comes with scanner, existing Kurzweil character recognition software, enhanced to read draft-quality dot matrix documents, and provides improved table, column and bold recognition, and the character recognition processor. The scanner has 400 dots per inch resolution and a 50-page automatic document feeder plus a true book edge for scanning books and other bound documents. A Fastscan Mode offers faster scanning (about 40% faster than normal mode) and recognition on clean documents. The new system includes two packages which convert recognised text and format information into on-line documents compatible with Interleaf or FrameMaker electronic publishing systems. The Western Digital 7000 SCSI controller card, which provides a gateway for connection to other manufacturers’ computers, scanners or networks comes as part of the package, but the K-5200 is still awaiting the development of new interface boards to enable such compatibility. The new system is UKP15,500 – UKP5,000 more than the K-5100, which has been cut by UKP3,000. To upgrade from the K-5100 will be UKP5,500 – the difference between the two products plus a 10% handling charge.
