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Phone scanners are already there. Auto scanning with border and angle detection works decently well [0], mini tripods with phone brackets abound. It’s very eas
by hrktb 5y ago
Phone scanners are already there.
Auto scanning with border and angle detection works decently well [0], mini tripods with phone brackets abound. It’s very easy to set a phone above the table at a slight angle (that makes it easier to move the docs in and out and get rid of shadows) with the app auto scanning every sheet that’s laid below.
[0] I used Scanner Pro by Readle, on iOS for reference
- ska 5y agoThey work ok, but are fiddly. I think OP is looking for something more bulletproof with a better workflow. Come to think of it a frame with a black base and an overhead light incorporating a phone holder would likely do the trick well.
- abdullahkhalids 5y agoIt will technically work. But do you think a student who still wants to appear "cool" is going to whip out the contraption you mention in front of their peers? There is more to solutions to problems than the technological possibilities.
- ska 5y agoSure, but that applies at least as much to the original solution. And this seems more of a 'on my desk at home' sort of problem space than a 'whip it out of my bag' sort.
- porknubbins 5y agoHaving built a lot of rpi projects bulletproof is the last word that comes to mind though. I mean the software end is usually fine if the sd card doesn’t get corrupted but building physically robust devices is a serious challenge.
- ska 5y agoAgreed; to me the problem isn't the phone and imaging part (which replacing with rpi will probably just make worse) but the lighting and geometry. On top of that a purpose-built workflow might be nice, compared to something like scanner-pro. tailored to emailing assignments to your profs or whatever.
- abdullahkhalids 5y agoFunny how an Apple consumer is advocating for a "fiddly" solution. I only use linux, but I was actually inspired by the Apple philosophy in this. A one-button, no-nonsense solution.
- hrktb 5y agoI have been in and out of the Apple ecosystem, now with a foot in both sides. In this specific case, I still prefer the iOS app over the alternatives I've been trying on android for instance. I think there is something to say about the sheer money size of the iOS ecosystem that allowed talented devs to get a decent ROI, even on niche apps. I am happy with an android phone, but only because I also keep other iOS devices around for when I really miss some apps. And it seems a lot of people are on the same boat, looking at iOS apps as unitaskers that they'll chain and shoehorn into workflows that fit their needs, more than as "just works" magic tools.
- tga 5y agoJust in case someone didn't know this and finds it useful: the system Files app on iOS can also scan documents to PDF, including perspective correction. I believe the Notes app can do that too.
- spaceisballer 5y agoThe notes app can definitely do this and works quite well. It’s never worth the trouble of taking out my scanner anymore. If you have decent lighting and a contrasting background for the document it almost never requires refining for me.
- heleninboodler 5y agoI use this as well and it generally works great, but I did recently have the county recorder's office reject filing some paperwork for my deed over the image quality, though. Had to go to Kinko's and find a real scanner.
- wukerplank 5y agoNotes app also does OCR and indexes the scanned content.
- zigzaggy 5y agoI didn't know this. Do you know how long that feature has been in place? I was uploading my screenshots to a completely different app for OCR until recently. I've changed my whole process now so it's not nearly as critical a step as it once was. But I still use it in passing.