Scan

Scan refers to the process of examining, capturing, or analyzing an object, image, or data using various techniques and technologies. Scanning can be applied in multiple fields, including medicine, computer science, engineering, and art.

Types of Scanning

Medical Scanning

Medical scanning involves the use of imaging technologies to diagnose and monitor diseases. Common types of medical scans include:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan
• Ultrasound
• X-ray
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan

These scans help in visualizing internal structures of the body, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions.

Document Scanning

Document scanning is the process of converting paper documents into digital format. This is typically done using a scanner device. Document scanning is essential for digital archiving, document management, and optical character recognition (OCR).

3D Scanning

3D scanning involves capturing the three-dimensional shape of an object. This can be done using technologies such as:

• Laser scanning
• Structured light scanning
• Photogrammetry

3D scanning is widely used in manufacturing, architecture, cultural heritage, and virtual reality.

Barcode Scanning

Barcode scanning is the process of reading and interpreting the information encoded in barcodes. This is commonly used in retail, logistics, and inventory management. Barcode scanners use laser or camera technology to read the barcode and convert it into digital data.

Applications of Scanning

Scanning technologies have a wide range of applications across different fields:

• In medicine, scans are used for diagnostic purposes and to monitor the progress of treatments.
• In engineering, 3D scans are used for quality control, reverse engineering, and product design.
• In art, scanning is used to digitize artworks for preservation and reproduction.
• In security, scanning technologies such as biometric scanning are used for identity verification and access control.

Related Pages

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Computed Tomography
• Ultrasound
• X-ray
• Positron Emission Tomography
• Scanner
• Digital archiving
• Optical character recognition
• Laser scanning
• Structured light scanning
• Photogrammetry
• Barcode
• Biometric scanning