Fax

Samsung SF-3100 Inkjet Fax Machine

Panasonic KX-F90

PSM V44 D062 Sample work of telautograph

Krant per fax - Faxed newspaper (4193509648)

Jean Schmidt fax

Fax (short for facsimile), sometimes called telefax or telecopying, is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other output device. The original document is scanned with a fax machine, which processes the contents (text or images) as a single fixed graphic image, converting it into a bitmap. In this digital form, the information is transmitted as electrical signals through the telephone system. The receiving fax machine interprets the coded image, printing a paper copy. Before the advent of digital technology, the transmitted data was sent as analog waves.

History

The development of fax technology dates back to the 19th century. Scottish inventor Alexander Bain worked on chemical mechanical fax type devices and was issued a patent for his invention in 1843. Subsequent developments were made by Frederick Bakewell in 1848 and Giovanni Caselli who successfully introduced the Pantelegraph in the 1860s. These early systems were not very practical for commercial use. The 20th century saw significant advancements with the refinement of digital fax technology, making it widely accessible and affordable for both businesses and personal use. The 1980s marked the peak of fax machines' popularity, becoming an indispensable tool for sending documents quickly across distances.

Technology

The key components of a fax machine include a scanner, a modem, and a printer. The scanner converts the document into a digital image. The modem then sends this image through the phone line to another fax machine, which uses its modem to receive the data and its printer to recreate the document. Modern fax machines, and fax services, often use digital rather than analog transmission methods, and documents can be sent to and from computers and other digital devices without needing to be printed.

Usage

Despite the rise of email and other forms of digital communication, fax machines remain in use today, particularly in industries where document integrity and security are paramount, such as in law, healthcare, and government. Faxes are considered legal documents in many jurisdictions, and the direct transmission from one machine to another, without intermediaries, can make them more secure than emails.

Current Trends

With the advent of the internet, traditional fax machines have evolved into digital or internet faxing services. These services allow users to send and receive faxes as email attachments or through web interfaces, eliminating the need for physical fax machines. However, concerns over digital security and the legal validity of digital signatures have ensured that traditional faxing remains in use alongside these newer technologies.

See Also

• Email
• Telecommunication
• Document management system
• Digital signature