Computerized literature reference system: use of an optical scanner and optical character recognition software

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Radiology Information Systems

Background:

• Managing radiology literature is crucial for staying updated with advancements.
• Traditional methods of literature review are time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and user-friendly computerized reference system for radiology literature.
• To enable efficient storage, retrieval, and integration of text and images from radiology publications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an IBM-compatible personal computer with a hand-held optical scanner.
• Employed optical character recognition (OCR) software for direct text entry into digital files.
• Integrated capabilities for incorporating line diagrams and radiographs into the database.
• Implemented text search and retrieval software for rapid keyword-based searching.

Main Results:

• Successfully created a system for direct digital entry of scanned text and images from radiology articles.
• Enabled rapid searching of scanned documents using keywords.
• The system allows for the creation of personalized radiology literature files.
• Commercial hardware and software are readily available, inexpensive, and easy to use.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers an efficient and accessible method for managing radiology literature.
• Personalized radiology databases can be constructed with minimal manual data entry.
• This approach enhances the accessibility of radiology research and educational materials.