From the day the first computer terminal sat on a desk, people dreamed of the "paperless office." Freed from the limitations of paper and ink, work would one day have the potential to flash across computer screens at the speed of light.
What happened to this electronic revolution? The would-be "paperless" office became populated with laser printers and copying machines, making it easy to create multiple copies of paper documents. Today, business is awash in more paper than ever—more than a billion pages every day.
But the dream has not died, thanks to imaging, a technology that shifts today's electronic office into high gear. By converting paper documents into digital replicas that are viewed on a computer screen, imaging has the power to make any business leaner, faster, and more responsive. Imaging can move documents at electronic speed—from desk to desk or around the world.
Wang is an acknowledged industry leader in imaging technology. Wang strengthens its leadership position with OPEN/image, the software package that adds imaging functionality to any existing application quickly, seamlessly, and cost-effectively.
Wang knows that a company's investment in its computer systems is significant. OPEN/image protects this investment, by adding imaging functions to any existing application program, whether it resides on a PC-based LAN, a multiuser UNIX system, or a mainframe host. No other vendor of imaging systems can make that claim.
However, applications cannot take advantage of the potential of image data until they are enabled to retrieve and use the images stored on disk. What makes OPEN/image so adaptable and powerful, yet so easy to implement, is its array of choices for image integration. Wang OPEN/image makes this possible in ways that no other imaging system can match.
For businesses that need tight integration and security, OPEN/image can image-enable application source code. Application programs communicate with OPEN/image through an Application Program Interface (API). This common set of programming calls can be incorporated into new or existing applications in a variety of operating environments, with minimal source code modifications, to provide imaging capabilities at the application level.
OPEN/image adds imaging functionality that is completely seamless: the end user sees only a powerful new choice on the familiar program menu. OPEN/image APIs provide all standard imaging functions—scan, display, print, copy, delete, rename, verify—as well as grayscale and color image handling, and Fax and OCR support. Administration is centralized at the server, so that the applications original security measures and backup procedures remain in place.
No other vendor makes application-level integration as fast or easy, because OPEN/image APIs support native programming environments and present a consistent, language-independent programming interface across all supported platforms. And no other vendor supports as many platforms. OPEN/image supports most platforms and development environments including yours.
OPEN/image also supports the Microsoft Windows programming environment, providing full integration with Visual Basic and PowerBuilder. With these tools, developers, power users and integrators can develop sophisticated, image-enabled applications faster than ever.
If you do not have access to application source code or do not wish to modify your host programs, OPEN/image Connect is provided for you. OPEN/image Connect image-enables applications at the screen level, linking stored images directly from the application screen. This inexpensive and flexible solution allows for development by non-programmers—no coding is required.
With OPEN/image Connect, the user defines formats, or areas on the application screen, through an easy-to-understand menu-driven program. OPEN/image Connect automatically links the format areas to images stored on a PC, LAN, or UNIX image server. Versions of OPEN/image Connect use either Microsoft's Visual Basic or Softbridge's Bridge as the driving program.
OPEN/image Connect provides direct image-enabling of most DOS applications running under Windows, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Word for Windows. It also supports many popular terminal emulators, to provide for easy image-enabling for mainframe and midrange applications. Demos and prototypes can be set up in minutes, without disturbing the production system. This ease of integration translates directly into rapid implementation and lower cost.
Wang OPEN/image provides an integrated image-enabling solution for any type of business system, from a single PC with a Visual Basic Toolkit to a multi-million dollar mainframe.
If yours is a large, worldwide organization and you depend on IBM and plug-compatible mainframe and midrange systems, imaging technology is both feasible and essential for today's marketplace. Wang offers solutions for bringing imaging to IBM's CICS and IMS/DC environments.
OPEN/image APIs for host systems include sample program code, which may be copied directly into application programs, making it easier to image-enable them. Client software runs on industry-standard PCs, communicating with the host through a standard 3270 terminal emulation window. Server options include OPEN/image Servers for UNIX (HP-UX, AIX, and Solaris) and NetWare, as well as MS-DOS redirected servers.
Our OPEN/image architecture is designed to provide flexible imaging solutions throughout your organization—using IBM, HP, Sun, or DEC hosts—virtually any popular, industry-standard hardware platform of your choice. This wide variety of platform choices enables you to configure the best imaging solution for today while opening up a smooth growth path for future migration to new platforms. And it provides the strongest investment protection possible, as you can leverage your past investments in applications without having to retrain programmers or engage in wholesale reprogramming.
Wang brings the benefits of imaging to the UNIX system environment with products for AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris. The list of supported platforms is an impressive catalog of the most popular UNIX systems, including IBM RISC Series Systems/6000, HP 9000 Series 700 and Series 800 Business Servers, and SUN SparcServer and SparcStation systems running Solaris. Because the Wang imaging API set is consistent across all the supported families of UNIX processors, no coding is required to migrate applications from one to another.
With OPEN/image WorkStation for UNIX, PCs or workstations operating in either Microsoft Windows or the X-Window Motif/X-terminal environment can be used to access and manage stored images from UNIX applications. Imagine . . . access to the growing number of image-enabled applications produced by third-party vendors for markets such as finance, legal, insurance, healthcare, government, manufacturing and for accounts payable, general ledger, accounts receivable.
The server component of the OPEN/image for UNIX packages allows LAN-connected applications to access images stored in TIFF and WIFF format on HP-UX, AIX, Solaris, and NetWare image servers. System components communicate over an 802.3 or 802.5 LAN using TCP/IP.
Image enabling is also available for applications running on Hewlett-Packard HP 3000 midrange systems. OPEN/image for MPE/iX includes an API to provide full imaging services for MPE/iX applications—scan, display, print, verify, copy, delete, rename, preferences, and document manager functions—plus Fax and OCR support.
OPEN/image for VMS is designed for the large installed base of DEC VAX systems running VMS. Using DEC's Common Language Interface, this API provides an easy method for adding imaging functions to VMS applications. Developers never leave the familiar VMS environment in order to enable existing applications with imaging capabilities, and to end-users it appears that imaging functions are a built-in part of VAX applications.
OPEN/image for OS/400 is a set of software products that provides imaging capabilities to OS/400 applications. Client software communicates with the host using 5250 terminal emulation. Low level communications take place using TN5250, PC support, or APPC.
The client software, OPEN/image WorkStation for VMS, runs on an IBM or compatible PC. When displayed in a DEC emulation window under Microsoft Windows, VAX host applications appear to the user to have imaging functions built in.
OPEN/image for Windows runs on industry-standard PCs and any NetBIOS local-area network with either Ethernet or token-ring topology. Images are stored on optical or magnetic disks. LAN-based servers manage scanners, printers, and other peripherals, and the user interface is based on the familiar Microsoft Windows.
OPEN/image Cabinet for Windows a turnkey solution to desktop image management. Cabinet runs as a standalone application on a single-user PC, on a LAN-connected PC, or as a client/server network application. It provides a full range of image functions—display, edit, copy, delete, Fax, scan, manage, print—all accessible from a convenient toolbar. Cabinet handles black and white, grayscale, and color images, and includes compression, conversion, and DDE operations to allow complete integration of images with other Windows applications. And best of all, OPEN/image cabinet for Windows is easy to use—no programming is required!
Are you in an environment that demands custom applications in the Windows environment? OPEN/image offers Custom Controls for Microsoft Visual Basic and User Objects for PowerBuilder, are packages that make it easy to add imaging capabilities. These products provide powerful sets of imaging functions for displaying, manipulating, scanning, printing, and managing image files and documents.
Since its introduction in 1987, the Wang Integrated Image System (WIIS) has led the industry in functionality and customer satisfaction. Image-server and applications duties are handled by Wang's VS midrange computer, connected to IBM-compatible PCs or Apple Macintoshes on any NetBIOS PC LAN.
WIIS integrates smoothly with Wang's powerful office-automation software for time management, word processing, electronic mail, and decision support. It also supports numerous image-enabled third-party applications for a variety of markets.
OPEN/image products reflect Wang's commitment to existing and emerging industry standards. Each product supports:
And OPEN/image packages are available in a growing number of languages. Worried about the format of image data on existing installations? Wang offers OPEN/image Translators for UNIX (HP-UX, AIX, and Solaris) and Windows, to ensure compatibility with these image files without the need for rescanning. Translators provide an easy image file conversion among such formats as the Microsoft/Aldus standard TIFF 5.0 and 6.0, Wang WIFF, IBM MO:DCA, and U.S. Government RASTER. To minimize storage and processing requirements, OPEN/image translators convert images to less complex, lower-resolution formats, or compress them using JPEG, LZW, or CCITT Group 3 and Group 4 compression schemes. The translators also support multipage and large-format image documents (with miniature "navigation" images), batch translation, user-customizable preference settings, and translation processing reports.
The OPEN/image server's main function is to provide image file, document, and optical disk management services, which locate and retrieve image files in response to requests from client and host applications. The server also manages file security and maintains a central document locator database. OPEN/image Servers are compatible with standard server hard disks and the industry's leading Write Once Read Many (WORM) optical disk drives, autochangers, and jukeboxes.
The image server resides on the LAN, keeping images separate from the application database to minimize the impact on application-server performance. OPEN/image server packages are available for all common platforms and connectivity options, including HP 9000 Series 800, IBM RS/6000, and Novell NetWare servers, as well as SUN SparcServers running Solaris and Wang RISC Series systems. The Novell-certified OPEN/image Server for NetWare functions as a fully-integrated NetWare Loadable Module (NLM), enabling users to build true client/server applications across LANs running NetWare.
The OPEN/image product line supports various optical scanning devices to serve a range of needs. The basic OPEN/image client package supports low-volume scanners (less than five pages per minute) such as HP ScanJets, SC300, and TWAIN scanners, as well as color units from Hewlett Packard and Epson. For heavier requirements (less than 40 PPM), OPEN/image scanner handlers are available for midrange scanners such as the Fujitsu 3093E, 3096E, and 3097E. The OPEN/image Batch Scan Utility supports still higher-volume scanning on Bell & Howell, TDC, and Kodak 900 series scanners, allowing input greater than 100 PPM. Features such as automatic document feeding and selectable resolution are also included.
The OPEN/image OCR provides for optical character recognition of scanned documents, using the OPEN/image LAN Recognition Server's OCR Services. Recognition can be performed on single or multiple pages within a document, or on all of the documents in a folder. Zone-mode OCR, which uses a template that recognizes specific regions of interest on the page, is also supported.
OPEN/image Fax for Windows provides multi-line LAN-based Fax support. Images from disk can be Faxed directly to selected recipients, or inbound Faxes can be viewed as image data by applications. OPEN/image Fax for Windows includes advanced Fax-management features such as customizable dialing directories ("phonebooks"), Fax scheduling, and automatic dialing retries.
With OPEN/image products a variety of non-Wang systems can take advantage of the power of Wang's industry-leading imaging solutions. But Wang does more than just supply products: as a full-service vendor of information systems and integration technology, Wang offers OPEN/support services for pre- and post-installation consulting, conversion assistance, training programs, and ongoing customer support.
Wang maintains its leadership position through innovation in imaging technology. Recently, this leading position was reaffirmed by Imaging magazine, which named OPEN/image a 1993 Premier Product of the Year.
Wang's strategic alliances with a growing number of information technology vendors put the power of the industry's best in your corner. Partnerships with world leaders like IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Computer Associates, Powersoft, Lotus, Banyan, and Novell mean a breadth of support and expertise unmatched by any other supplier.
For more than 40 years, Wang has been on the front line of the battle for better information management in the office. Today, Wang is a world authority on work management software network services as well as client/server systems integration. When it comes to integrating the power of imaging technology into your business systems, Wang OPEN/image is the obvious choice.
Call your local Wang sales office or authorized dealer today for further information, or to schedule a demonstration. Other organizations already have, and they're already using imaging to boost productivity, reduce costs, and reach new levels of customer satisfaction.
By eliminating many of the costs involved in extensive paper handling, imaging technology makes the power of computers work for document-intensive enterprises.
Imaging saves time. Since image documents are stored electronically, they can be retrieved in seconds. What's more, an electronic document can often be viewed simultaneously by more than one person—no time is wasted photocopying or refiling. And when used with Wang's OPEN/workflow system, efficiency and productivity are maximized.
Imaging saves space. Optical disks, where images are stored, can hold astonishing amounts of data in a small space. In a floor area of only fifteen square feet, a single optical-disk jukebox can store the equivalent of one thousand four-drawer filing cabinets. Think of how many workers could use this reclaimed space!
Imaging saves paper. Reducing hard copy requirements saves time and money. Less time copying, printing, and filing documents. Less money for paper, printing, and disposing of used paper!
Besides the savings that appear on the balance sheet, imaging provides equally important intangible benefits. Customers appreciate the increased responsiveness, faster access to information, and shorter turnaround times. Employees spend less time struggling with labor-intensive, paper-based systems. They can invest their time into getting their work done, feeling less frustrated and more productive.
Wang OPEN/image provides dramatic gains in efficiency, productivity, and customer service for all types of business enterprise.
In banking, for example, major credit-card operations use OPEN/image to automate the filing and retrieval of charge slips and correspondence. Chargeback disputes between cardholders and merchants can be resolved in minutes. Investigators can immediately view individual signed slips and full account histories, without searching manually through massive file folders. The processing of loan applications is also greatly accelerated when all necessary documents and credit histories are instantly available. Faster response to customer requests leads to better customer service and improved competitiveness.
With OPEN/image, insurance companies can process claims in a matter of days rather than weeks. Some report that telephone inquiries are reduced by as much as 60%. Outstanding claims are resolved faster, customer service improves, and companies can devote more time to new business.
In manufacturing, technicians can use local workstations to view drawings and blueprints of malfunctioning equipment, without removing the equipment from the production floor. Replacement parts are ordered automatically through the same system.
Health care records are prime candidates for image-enabling. Faster access to up-to-date medical records means more responsive patient care. Storage and copying costs are reduced, and security provisions ensure that patient confidentiality is not compromised.
Law firms use OPEN/image to provide attorneys with up-to-date case files in minutes, anywhere in the world. In the document-intensive legal profession, storing and searching for paper documents are a major drain on time and office space. Efficient access to briefs and evidence means better preparation and a significant competitive advantage in the courtroom.
State and local governments are no strangers to the burden of paperwork. Requests for birth certificates, deeds, tax records all require retrieving and refiling of paper documents. Imaging systems enable government workers to respond to an increasing number of inquiries, without the expense of additional staff.
The actual conversion of paper documents into electronic form is most often handled by an optical scanning device. A scanner makes an exact electronic replica of any document—typed or handwritten letter, photograph, diagram, drawing—and stores it. Image documents can also be created from incoming Faxes or imported from applications programs.
Once in the system, users can process image data in various ways. One key process, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), converts letters and numbers from the image page into ASCII data for import to a word processing program, or to a database for indexing and later retrieval. Barcode recognition and handwriting recognition are other processes that can positively impact the efficiency of a business.
Images stored on disk can require substantial amounts of electronic space. For this reason the storage component of the imaging system is crucial: it must provide plenty of capacity and high speed. High-density magnetic media provide short-term, extremely high-speed storage, and optical disks offer higher-capacity, long-term storage. When document storage requirements go beyond a single optical disk, a business can increase storage capacity with a "jukebox," a multi-disk storage device that operates like an automatic record changer.
An image server is required to keep track of the images stored on disk, handle communications between the storage disks and other parts of the system, and provide other management services.
Image documents are put to work on a desktop PC or workstation. Here, images retrieved from disk can be displayed. To enhance the display of documents on computer screens, OPEN/image software also allows images to be zoomed, rotated, scaled, or converted to other formats in addition to image delivery of desktop PCs. They may be sent to a printer or Fax device for delivery outside of the image system.