OFFICE AUTOMATION – I MODERN OFFICE EQUIPMENT 8. USE OF FACSIMILE MACHINE In the previous lesson you have learnt about the process of photocopying and how a photocopied document is laminated to convert it into a folder for use in meetings etc. In this lesson you will learn about the Facsimile machine, or as it is commonly known - the Fax machine .This machine has revolutionized the mode of transportation of documents across the globe.
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Objectives After reading this lesson, you shall be able to understand:
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How a Fax machine communicates Basics of a Communication system Types of Faxs available Basic features in a fax machine How to operate the basic features of any fax available in Modern Offices of today.
Introduction The fax machine evolved from the telegraph technology. Alexander Bain invented a fax machine capable of receiving signals from a telegraph wire and translating them into images on paper. First introduced in 1842, facsimile did not have a real impact until computers and telecommunication networks were developed.
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What Is A Facsimile (Commonly Referred to as Fax)? The term ‘Fax’ refers to a device that transmits still pictures, or printed matter, over an electrical circuit to another destination. It is also called facsimile or picture telegraphy. It is a method of sending messages by a telecommunications link. It transmits text and graphic data such as photographs, maps and diagrams. Virtually anything on paper can be transmitted by facsimile equipment. Most fax transmissions are via the telephone network. A fax machine is especially useful when documents are to be sent urgently. The basic technique is not new – for years it has been
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