Renewed interest in the tipped-to-be fast-growing imaging technology market over recent months from the likes of Wang Laboratories, AT&T Co and Unisys Corp has led NCR Corp to produce its own positioning statement on the development of such systems during the 1990s. Darrell Clark, NCR’s senior vice-president of Integrated Systems Group, said that imaging products from NCR would address applications in high volume forms processing, item processing, and office image services. These products will be based on open systems and industry standards including microprocessor based systems using Unix and personal computer operating systems, database interfaces, local area network protocols and personal computer-based workstations, said Clark. Imaging standards to be supported will include CCITT compression and the Office Document Architecture specification. Systems under development at NCR include a document management system including file servers and high resolution workstations, local network software, form and page scanners, laser printers and optical storage devices. An SQL interface and high level toolset will allow fast development of applications, and NCR will also include a facsimile server, host gateway software and a recognition subsystem for capturing and indexing images automatically. Also on offer will be an Image Item processing system for cheques, remittances and Giro payments that will allow for point of deposit image capture, regional or centralised proof, remittance and sales draft processing, and image archiving. An Office Information System will be designed for company-wide information access and management. NCR is targeting banks and insurance business as the major customers for the systems, but does not say when it expects the technology to be available.
