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[[Image:Samfax.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Samsung]] fax machine]]
[[Image:Samfax.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Samsung]] facks machine]]


'''Fax''' (short for '''facsimile''', from [[Latin]] ''fac simile'', "make similar", i.e. "make a copy") is a [[telecommunications]] technology used to transfer copies ([[wikt:facsimile|facsimiles]]) of documents, especially using affordable devices operating over the [[telephone]] network. The word '''telefax''', short for '''telefacsimile''', for "make a copy at a distance", is also used as a [[synonym]]. Although ''fax'' is not an [[acronym]], it is often erroneously written as such (“FAX”). The device is also known as a telecopier in certain industries. When sending documents to people at large distances, faxes have a distinct advantage over postal mail in that the delivery is nearly instantaneous, yet its disadvantages in quality have relegated it to a position beneath [[email]] as the prevailing form of electronic document transferral.
'''Facks''' (short for '''facsimile''', from [[Latin]] ''fac simile'', "make similar", i.e. "make a copy") is a [[telecommunications]] technology used to transfer copies ([[wikt:facsimile|facsimiles]]) of documents, especially using affordable devices operating over the [[telephone]] network. The word '''telefacks''', short for '''telefacsimile''', for "make a copy at a distance", is also used as a [[synonym]]. Although ''facks'' is not an [[acronym]], it is often erroneously written as such (“FAcks”). The device is also known as a telecopier in certain industries. When sending documents to people at large distances, fackses have a distinct advantage over postal mail in that the delivery is nearly instantaneous, yet its disadvantages in quality have relegated it to a position beneath [[email]] as the prevailing form of electronic document transferral.


==Overview==
==Overview==
A "fax machine" usually consists of an [[image scanner]], a [[modem]], and also offered as options for many high-volume workgroup [[Computer printer|printers]] and [[photocopier]]s.
A "facks machine" usually consists of an [[image scanner]], a [[modem]], and also offered as options for many high-volume workgroup [[Computer printer|printers]] and [[photocopier]]s.


Although devices for transmitting printed documents electrically have existed, in various forms, since the 19th century (see [[Fax#History|"History"]] below), modern fax machines became feasible only in the mid-1970s as the sophistication increased and cost of the three underlying technologies dropped. Digital fax machines first became popular in [[Japan]], where they had a clear advantage over competing technologies like the [[teleprinter]], since at the time (before the development of easy-to-use [[input method editor]]s) it was faster to handwrite [[kanji]] than to type the characters. Over time, faxing gradually became affordable, and by the mid-1980s, fax machines were very popular around the world.
Although devices for transmitting printed documents electrically have ecksisted, in various forms, since the 19th century (see [[Facks#History|"History"]] below), modern facks machines became feasible only in the mid-1970s as the sophistication increased and cost of the three underlying technologies dropped. Digital facks machines first became popular in [[Japan]], where they had a clear advantage over competing technologies like the [[teleprinter]], since at the time (before the development of easy-to-use [[input method editor]]s) it was faster to handwrite [[kanji]] than to type the characters. Over time, facksing gradually became affordable, and by the mid-1980s, facks machines were very popular around the world.


Although many businesses still maintain some kind of fax capability, the technology has faced increasing competition from [[Internet]]-based systems. However, fax machines still retain some advantages, particularly in the transmission of sensitive material which, due to mandates like [[Sarbanes-Oxley Act|Sarbanes-Oxley]] and [[Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act|HIPAA]], cannot be sent over the Internet unencrypted{{Fact|date=August 2008}}. In some countries, because [[electronic signature]]s on contracts are not recognized by law while faxed contracts with copies of signatures are, fax machines enjoy continuing popularity in business.
Although many businesses still maintain some kind of facks capability, the technology has faced increasing competition from [[Internet]]-based systems. However, facks machines still retain some advantages, particularly in the transmission of sensitive material which, due to mandates like [[Sarbanes-Ocksley Act|Sarbanes-Ocksley]] and [[Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act|HIPAA]], cannot be sent over the Internet unencrypted{{Fact|date=August 2008}}. In some countries, because [[electronic signature]]s on contracts are not recognized by law while facksed contracts with copies of signatures are, facks machines enjoy continuing popularity in business.


In many corporate environments, standalone fax machines have been replaced by "[[fax server]]s" and other computerized systems capable of receiving and storing incoming faxes electronically, and then routing them to users on paper or via an [[email]] (which may be secured). Such systems have the advantage of reducing costs by eliminating unnecessary printouts and reducing the number of inbound analog phone lines needed by an office.
In many corporate environments, standalone facks machines have been replaced by "[[facks server]]s" and other computerized systems capable of receiving and storing incoming fackses electronically, and then routing them to users on paper or via an [[email]] (which may be secured). Such systems have the advantage of reducing costs by eliminating unnecessary printouts and reducing the number of inbound analog phone lines needed by an office.


==Capabilities==
==Capabilities==
There are several different indicators of fax capabilities: Group, class, data transmission rate, and conformance with [[ITU-T]] (formerly [[CCITT]]) recommendations.
There are several different indicators of facks capabilities: Group, class, data transmission rate, and conformance with [[ITU-T]] (formerly [[CCITT]]) recommendations.


Fax machines utilize standard [[PSTN]] lines and telephone numbers.
Facks machines utilize standard [[PSTN]] lines and telephone numbers.


===Group===
===Group===
====Analog====
====Analog====
Group 1 and 2 faxes were sent in the same manner as a frame of [[analog television]], with each scanned line transmitted as a continuous analog signal. Horizontal resolution depended upon the quality of the scanner, transmission line, and the printer. Analog fax machines are obsolete and no longer manufactured. ITU-T Recommendations T.2 and T.3 were withdrawn as obsolete in July 1996.
Group 1 and 2 fackses were sent in the same manner as a frame of [[analog television]], with each scanned line transmitted as a continuous analog signal. Horizontal resolution depended upon the quality of the scanner, transmission line, and the printer. Analog facks machines are obsolete and no longer manufactured. ITU-T Recommendations T.2 and T.3 were withdrawn as obsolete in July 1996.
* Group 1 faxes conform to the ITU-T Recommendation T.2. Group 1 faxes take six minutes to transmit a single page, with a vertical resolution of 98 [[scan line]]s per inch. Group 1 fax machines are obsolete and no longer manufactured.
* Group 1 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendation T.2. Group 1 fackses take sicks minutes to transmit a single page, with a vertical resolution of 98 [[scan line]]s per inch. Group 1 facks machines are obsolete and no longer manufactured.
* Group 2 faxes conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.30 and T.3. Group 2 faxes take three minutes to transmit a single page, with a vertical resolution of 100 scan lines per inch. Group 2 fax machines are almost obsolete, and are no longer manufactured. Group 2 fax machines can interoperate with Group 3 fax machines.
* Group 2 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.30 and T.3. Group 2 fackses take three minutes to transmit a single page, with a vertical resolution of 100 scan lines per inch. Group 2 facks machines are almost obsolete, and are no longer manufactured. Group 2 facks machines can interoperate with Group 3 facks machines.
====Digital====
====Digital====
Group 3 and 4 faxes are digital formats, and take advantage of digital compression methods to greatly reduce transmission times.
Group 3 and 4 fackses are digital formats, and take advantage of digital compression methods to greatly reduce transmission times.
* Group 3 faxes conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.30 and T.4. Group 3 faxes take between six and fifteen seconds to transmit a single page (not including the initial time for the fax machines to handshake and synchronize). The horizontal and vertical resolutions are allowed by the T.4 standard to vary among a set of fixed resolutions:
* Group 3 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.30 and T.4. Group 3 fackses take between sicks and fifteen seconds to transmit a single page (not including the initial time for the facks machines to handshake and synchronize). The horizontal and vertical resolutions are allowed by the T.4 standard to vary among a set of ficksed resolutions:
**Horizontal: 100 scan lines per inch
**Horizontal: 100 scan lines per inch
***Vertical: 100 scan lines per inch
***Vertical: 100 scan lines per inch
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**Horizontal: 400 or 408 scan lines per inch
**Horizontal: 400 or 408 scan lines per inch
***Vertical: 400 or 391 scan lines per inch ('Ultrafine')
***Vertical: 400 or 391 scan lines per inch ('Ultrafine')
* Group 4 faxes conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.563, T.503, T.521, T.6, T.62, T.70, T.72, T.411 to T.417. They are designed to operate over 64 kbit/s digital [[ISDN]] circuits. Their resolution is determined by the T.6 recommendation, which is a superset of the T.4 recommendation.
* Group 4 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.563, T.503, T.521, T.6, T.62, T.70, T.72, T.411 to T.417. They are designed to operate over 64 kbit/s digital [[ISDN]] circuits. Their resolution is determined by the T.6 recommendation, which is a superset of the T.4 recommendation.
Fax Over IP (FOIP) can transmit and receive pre-digitized documents at near realtime speeds. Scanned documents are limited to the amount of time the user takes to load the document in a scanner and for the device to process a digital file. The resolution can vary from as little as 150 DPI to 9600 DPI or more. This type of faxing is not like the e-mail to fax service that still uses fax modems at least one way.
Facks Over IP (FOIP) can transmit and receive pre-digitized documents at near realtime speeds. Scanned documents are limited to the amount of time the user takes to load the document in a scanner and for the device to process a digital file. The resolution can vary from as little as 150 DPI to 9600 DPI or more. This type of facksing is not like the e-mail to facks service that still uses facks modems at least one way.


===Class===
===Class===
Computer modems are often designated by a particular fax class, which indicates how much processing is offloaded from the computer's CPU to the fax modem.
Computer modems are often designated by a particular facks class, which indicates how much processing is offloaded from the computer's CPU to the facks modem.


*Class 1 fax devices do fax data transfer where the T.4/T.6 data compression and T.30 session management are performed by software on a controlling computer. This is described in ITU-T recommendation T.31.
*Class 1 facks devices do facks data transfer where the T.4/T.6 data compression and T.30 session management are performed by software on a controlling computer. This is described in ITU-T recommendation T.31.
*Class 2 fax devices perform T.30 session management themselves, but the T.4/T.6 data compression is performed by software on a controlling computer. The relevant ITU-T recommendation is T.32.
*Class 2 facks devices perform T.30 session management themselves, but the T.4/T.6 data compression is performed by software on a controlling computer. The relevant ITU-T recommendation is T.32.
*Class 2.1 fax devices are referred to as "super G3"; they seem to be a little faster than the other 2 classes.
*Class 2.1 facks devices are referred to as "super G3"; they seem to be a little faster than the other 2 classes.
*Class 3 fax devices are responsible for virtually the entire fax session, given little more than a phone number and the text to send (including rendering ASCII text as a raster image). These devices are not common.
*Class 3 facks devices are responsible for virtually the entire facks session, given little more than a phone number and the teckst to send (including rendering ASCII teckst as a raster image). These devices are not common.


===Data transmission rate===
===Data transmission rate===
Several different telephone line modulation techniques are used by fax machines. They are negotiated during the fax-[[modem]] [[handshaking|handshake]], and the fax devices will use the highest data rate that both fax devices support, usually a minimum of 14.4 kbit/s for Group 3 fax.
Several different telephone line modulation techniques are used by facks machines. They are negotiated during the facks-[[modem]] [[handshaking|handshake]], and the facks devices will use the highest data rate that both facks devices support, usually a minimum of 14.4 kbit/s for Group 3 facks.


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Note that 'Super Group 3' faxes use [[V.34bis]] modulation that allows a data rate of up to 33.6 kbit/s.
Note that 'Super Group 3' fackses use [[V.34bis]] modulation that allows a data rate of up to 33.6 kbit/s.


===Compression===
===Compression===
As well as specifying the resolution (and allowable physical size of the image being faxed), the ITU-T T.4 recommendation specifies two compression methods for decreasing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted between the fax machines to transfer the image. The two methods are:
As well as specifying the resolution (and allowable physical size of the image being facksed), the ITU-T T.4 recommendation specifies two compression methods for decreasing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted between the facks machines to transfer the image. The two methods are:
*[[Modified Huffman coding|Modified Huffman]] (MH), and
*[[Modified Huffman coding|Modified Huffman]] (MH), and
*[[Modified READ]] (MR)
*[[Modified READ]] (MR)


====Modified Huffman====
====Modified Huffman====
Modified Huffman (MH) is a codebook-based run-length encoding scheme optimised to efficiently compress whitespace. As most faxes consist mostly of white space, this minimises the transmission time of most faxes. Each line scanned is compressed independently of its predecessor and successor.
Modified Huffman (MH) is a codebook-based run-length encoding scheme optimised to efficiently compress whitespace. As most fackses consist mostly of white space, this minimises the transmission time of most fackses. Each line scanned is compressed independently of its predecessor and successor.


====Modified Read====
====Modified Read====
Modified Read (MR) encodes the first scanned line using MH. The next line is compared to the first, the differences determined, and then the differences are encoded and transmitted. This is effective as most lines differ little from their predecessor. This is not continued to the end of the fax transmission, but only for a limited number of lines until the process is reset and a new 'first line' encoded with MH is produced. This limited number of lines is to prevent errors propagating throughout the whole fax, as the standard does not provide for error-correction. MR is an optional facility, and some fax machines do not use MR in order to minimise the amount of computation required by the machine. The limited number of lines is two for 'Standard' resolution faxes, and four for 'Fine' resolution faxes.
Modified Read (MR) encodes the first scanned line using MH. The neckst line is compared to the first, the differences determined, and then the differences are encoded and transmitted. This is effective as most lines differ little from their predecessor. This is not continued to the end of the facks transmission, but only for a limited number of lines until the process is reset and a new 'first line' encoded with MH is produced. This limited number of lines is to prevent errors propagating throughout the whole facks, as the standard does not provide for error-correction. MR is an optional facility, and some facks machines do not use MR in order to minimise the amount of computation required by the machine. The limited number of lines is two for 'Standard' resolution fackses, and four for 'Fine' resolution fackses.


The ITU-T T.6 recommendation adds a further compression type of [[Modified Modified READ]] (MMR), which simply allows for a greater number of lines to be coded by MR than in T.4. This is because T.6 makes the assumption that the transmission is over a circuit with a low number of line errors such as digital ISDN. In this case, there is no maximum number of lines for which the differences are encoded.
The ITU-T T.6 recommendation adds a further compression type of [[Modified Modified READ]] (MMR), which simply allows for a greater number of lines to be coded by MR than in T.4. This is because T.6 makes the assumption that the transmission is over a circuit with a low number of line errors such as digital ISDN. In this case, there is no macksimum number of lines for which the differences are encoded.


====Matsushita Whiteline Skip====
====Matsushita Whiteline Skip====
A proprietary compression scheme employed on Panasonic fax machines is Matsushita Whiteline Skip (MWS). It can be overlaid on the other compression schemes, but is operative only when two Panasonic machines are communicating with one another. This system detects the blank scanned areas between lines of text, and then compresses several blank scan lines into the data space of a single character.
A proprietary compression scheme employed on Panasonic facks machines is Matsushita Whiteline Skip (MWS). It can be overlaid on the other compression schemes, but is operative only when two Panasonic machines are communicating with one another. This system detects the blank scanned areas between lines of teckst, and then compresses several blank scan lines into the data space of a single character.


===Typical characteristics===
===Typical characteristics===
Group 3 fax machines transfer one or a few printed or handwritten pages per minute in black-and-white (bitonal) at a [[Optical resolution|resolution]] of 100x200 or 200x200 dots per inch. The transfer rate is 14.4 kilo[[bit]]s per second (kbit/s) or higher for modems and some fax machines, but fax machines support speeds beginning with 2400 bit/s and typically operate at 9600 bit/s. The transferred image formats are called [[ITU-T]] (formerly CCITT) fax group 3 or 4.
Group 3 facks machines transfer one or a few printed or handwritten pages per minute in black-and-white (bitonal) at a [[Optical resolution|resolution]] of 100cks200 or 200cks200 dots per inch. The transfer rate is 14.4 kilo[[bit]]s per second (kbit/s) or higher for modems and some facks machines, but facks machines support speeds beginning with 2400 bit/s and typically operate at 9600 bit/s. The transferred image formats are called [[ITU-T]] (formerly CCITT) facks group 3 or 4.


The most basic fax mode transfers black and white only. The original page is scanned in a resolution of 1728 [[pixel]]s/line and 1145 lines/page (for [[A4 paper size|A4]]). The resulting raw data is [[data compression|compressed]] using a modified [[Huffman coding|Huffman code]] optimized for written text, achieving average compression factors of around 20. Typically a page needs 10 s for transmission, instead of about 3 minutes for the same uncompressed raw data of 1728×1145 bits at a speed of 9600 bit/s. The compression method uses a Huffman codebook for run lengths of black and white runs in a single scanned line, and it can also use the fact that two adjacent scanlines are usually quite similar, saving bandwidth by encoding only the differences.
The most basic facks mode transfers black and white only. The original page is scanned in a resolution of 1728 [[picksel]]s/line and 1145 lines/page (for [[A4 paper size|A4]]). The resulting raw data is [[data compression|compressed]] using a modified [[Huffman coding|Huffman code]] optimized for written teckst, achieving average compression factors of around 20. Typically a page needs 10 s for transmission, instead of about 3 minutes for the same uncompressed raw data of 1728×1145 bits at a speed of 9600 bit/s. The compression method uses a Huffman codebook for run lengths of black and white runs in a single scanned line, and it can also use the fact that two adjacent scanlines are usually quite similar, saving bandwidth by encoding only the differences.


Fax classes denote the way fax programs interact with fax hardware. Available classes include Class 1, Class 2, Class 2.0 and 2.1, and Intel CAS. Many modems support at least class 1 and often either Class 2 or Class 2.0. Which is preferrable to use depends on factors such as hardware, software, modem firmware, and expected use.
Facks classes denote the way facks programs interact with facks hardware. Available classes include Class 1, Class 2, Class 2.0 and 2.1, and Intel CAS. Many modems support at least class 1 and often either Class 2 or Class 2.0. Which is preferrable to use depends on factors such as hardware, software, modem firmware, and eckspected use.


Fax machines from the 1970s to the 1990s often used direct [[thermal printer]]s as their printing technology, but since the mid-1990s there has been a transition towards [[thermal transfer printer]]s, [[inkjet printer]]s and laser printers.
Facks machines from the 1970s to the 1990s often used direct [[thermal printer]]s as their printing technology, but since the mid-1990s there has been a transition towards [[thermal transfer printer]]s, [[inkjet printer]]s and laser printers.


One of the advantages of inkjet printing is that inkjets can affordably print in [[color]]; therefore, many of the inkjet-based fax machines claim to have color fax capability. There is a standard called [[ITU-T30e]] for faxing in color; unfortunately, it is not yet widely supported, so many of the color fax machines can only fax in color to machines from the same manufacturer.
One of the advantages of inkjet printing is that inkjets can affordably print in [[color]]; therefore, many of the inkjet-based facks machines claim to have color facks capability. There is a standard called [[ITU-T30e]] for facksing in color; unfortunately, it is not yet widely supported, so many of the color facks machines can only facks in color to machines from the same manufacturer.


===Fax paper===
===Facks paper===
As a security precaution, thermal fax paper is typically not admissible as evidence in a court of law unless photocopied. This is because the ink used on fax papers is delible, brittle and tends to come off over long periods of storage. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}
As a security precaution, thermal facks paper is typically not admissible as evidence in a court of law unless photocopied. This is because the ink used on facks papers is delible, brittle and tends to come off over long periods of storage. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}


==Alternatives==
==Alternatives==


One popular alternative is to subscribe to an [[internet fax]] service. Fax service providers allow users to send and receive faxes from their personal computers using an existing email account. No software, fax server or fax machine is needed. Faxes are received as attached [[TIF|.TIF]] or [[PDF|.PDF]] files, or in proprietary formats that require the use of the service provider's software. Faxes can be sent or retrieved from anywhere at any time that a user can get internet access. Some services even offer secure faxing to comply with stringent [[HIPAA]] and [[Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act]] requirements to keep medical information and financial information private and secure. Utilizing a fax service provider does not require paper, a dedicated fax line, or consumables.
One popular alternative is to subscribe to an [[internet facks]] service. Facks service providers allow users to send and receive fackses from their personal computers using an ecksisting email account. No software, facks server or facks machine is needed. Fackses are received as attached [[TIF|.TIF]] or [[PDF|.PDF]] files, or in proprietary formats that require the use of the service provider's software. Fackses can be sent or retrieved from anywhere at any time that a user can get internet access. Some services even offer secure facksing to comply with stringent [[HIPAA]] and [[Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act]] requirements to keep medical information and financial information private and secure. Utilizing a facks service provider does not require paper, a dedicated facks line, or consumables.


Another alternative to a physical fax machine is to make use of computer [[software]] which allows people to send and receive faxes using their own computers. See [[Fax server]], [[Unified messaging]] and [[internet fax]].
Another alternative to a physical facks machine is to make use of computer [[software]] which allows people to send and receive fackses using their own computers. See [[Facks server]], [[Unified messaging]] and [[internet facks]].


== History ==
== History ==
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=== Wire transmission ===
=== Wire transmission ===


Scottish inventor [[Alexander Bain (inventor)|Alexander Bain]] is often credited with the first fax patent in 1843. He used his knowledge of electric [[clock]] [[pendulum]]s to produce a back-and-forth line-by-line scanning mechanism. [[Frederick Bakewell]] made several improvements on Bain's design and demonstrated the device at the 1851 [[Great Exhibition]] in London.
Scottish inventor [[Alecksander Bain (inventor)|Alecksander Bain]] is often credited with the first facks patent in 1843. He used his knowledge of electric [[clock]] [[pendulum]]s to produce a back-and-forth line-by-line scanning mechanism. [[Frederick Bakewell]] made several improvements on Bain's design and demonstrated the device at the 1851 [[Great Eckshibition]] in London.


In 1861, the first commercially exploited telefax machine, the [[Pantelegraph]] was invented by the Italian physicist [[Giovanni Caselli]], introducing the first commercial telefax service between Paris and Lyon even before the invention of workable [[telephone]]s. In 1881, Scottish inventor [[Shelford Bidwell]] constructed the ''[[scanning phototelegraph]]'' that was the first telefax machine to scan any two-dimensional original, not requiring manual plotting or drawing anymore.
In 1861, the first commercially ecksploited telefacks machine, the [[Pantelegraph]] was invented by the Italian physicist [[Giovanni Caselli]], introducing the first commercial telefacks service between Paris and Lyon even before the invention of workable [[telephone]]s. In 1881, Scottish inventor [[Shelford Bidwell]] constructed the ''[[scanning phototelegraph]]'' that was the first telefacks machine to scan any two-dimensional original, not requiring manual plotting or drawing anymore.


Around 1900, German physicist [[Arthur Korn]] invented the ''[[:de:Bildtelegrafie|Bildtelegraph]]'', widespread in continental Europe especially since a widely noticed transmission of a wanted-person photograph from Paris to London in 1908, used until the wider distribution of the radiofax. Its main competitors were the ''[[Bélinograf]]'' by [[Édouard Belin]] first, then since the 1930s the ''[[Hellschreiber]]'', invented in 1929 by [[Rudolf Hell]], a pioneer in mechanical image scanning and transmission.
Around 1900, German physicist [[Arthur Korn]] invented the ''[[:de:Bildtelegrafie|Bildtelegraph]]'', widespread in continental Europe especially since a widely noticed transmission of a wanted-person photograph from Paris to London in 1908, used until the wider distribution of the radiofacks. Its main competitors were the ''[[Bélinograf]]'' by [[Édouard Belin]] first, then since the 1930s the ''[[Hellschreiber]]'', invented in 1929 by [[Rudolf Hell]], a pioneer in mechanical image scanning and transmission.


=== Wireless transmission ===
=== Wireless transmission ===


As a designer for the [[Radio Corporation of America]] (RCA), in 1924, [[Richard H. Ranger]] invented the wireless photoradiogram, or transoceanic [[radiofax|radio facsimile]], the forerunner of today’s "Fax" machines. A photograph of President [[Calvin Coolidge]] sent from New York to London on November 29, 1924 became the first photo picture reproduced by transoceanic radio facsimile. Commercial use of Ranger’s product began two years later. Radio fax is still in common use today for transmitting weather charts and information. Also in 1924, [[Herbert E. Ives]] of [[AT&T]] transmitted and reconstructed the first color facsimile, using color separations.
As a designer for the [[Radio Corporation of America]] (RCA), in 1924, [[Richard H. Ranger]] invented the wireless photoradiogram, or transoceanic [[radiofacks|radio facsimile]], the forerunner of today’s "Facks" machines. A photograph of President [[Calvin Coolidge]] sent from New York to London on November 29, 1924 became the first photo picture reproduced by transoceanic radio facsimile. Commercial use of Ranger’s product began two years later. Radio facks is still in common use today for transmitting weather charts and information. Also in 1924, [[Herbert E. Ives]] of [[AT&T]] transmitted and reconstructed the first color facsimile, using color separations.


Prior to the introduction of the once-ubiquitous fax machine, one of the first being the [[Exxon]] Qwip in the mid-1970s, radio facsimile machines worked by optical scanning of a document or drawing spinning on a drum. The reflected light, varying in intensity according to the light and dark areas of the document, was focused on a [[photocell]] so that the current in a circuit would vary with the amount of light. This current was used to control a tone generator (a [[modulator]]), the current determining the frequency of the tone produced. This audio tone was then transmitted using an [[acoustic coupler]] (a speaker, in this case) attached to the microphone of a common [[Handset|telephone handset]]. At the receiving end, a handset’s speaker was attached to an acoustic coupler (a microphone), and a [[demodulator]] converted the varying tone into a variable current which controlled the mechanical movement of a pen or pencil to reproduce the image on a blank sheet of paper on an identical drum rotating at the same rate. A pair of these expensive and bulky machines could only be afforded by companies with a serious need to communicate drawings, design sketches or signed documents between distant locations, such as an office and factory.
Prior to the introduction of the once-ubiquitous facks machine, one of the first being the [[Ecksckson]] Qwip in the mid-1970s, radio facsimile machines worked by optical scanning of a document or drawing spinning on a drum. The reflected light, varying in intensity according to the light and dark areas of the document, was focused on a [[photocell]] so that the current in a circuit would vary with the amount of light. This current was used to control a tone generator (a [[modulator]]), the current determining the frequency of the tone produced. This audio tone was then transmitted using an [[acoustic coupler]] (a speaker, in this case) attached to the microphone of a common [[Handset|telephone handset]]. At the receiving end, a handset’s speaker was attached to an acoustic coupler (a microphone), and a [[demodulator]] converted the varying tone into a variable current which controlled the mechanical movement of a pen or pencil to reproduce the image on a blank sheet of paper on an identical drum rotating at the same rate. A pair of these eckspensive and bulky machines could only be afforded by companies with a serious need to communicate drawings, design sketches or signed documents between distant locations, such as an office and factory.
In 1985, Dr. [[Hank Magnuski]], founder of [[GammaLink]], produced the first computer fax board, called [[GammaFax]].
In 1985, Dr. [[Hank Magnuski]], founder of [[GammaLink]], produced the first computer facks board, called [[GammaFacks]].


==See also==
==See also==
{{Wiktionarypar2|fax|facsimile}}
{{Wiktionarypar2|facks|facsimile}}
*[[3Dfax]]
*[[3Dfacks]]
*[[Black fax]]
*[[Black facks]]
*[[Called Subscriber Identification]] (CSID)
*[[Called Subscriber Identification]] (CSID)
*[[Error correction mode]] (ECM)
*[[Error correction mode]] (ECM)
*Fax-over-IP [[T.38]]
*Facks-over-IP [[T.38]]
*[[Fax server]]
*[[Facks server]]
*[[Faxlore]]
*[[Fackslore]]
*[[Fultograph]]
*[[Fultograph]]
*[[Internet fax]]
*[[Internet facks]]
*[[Junk fax]]
*[[Junk facks]]
*[[Telautograph]]
*[[Telautograph]]
*[[Transmitting Subscriber Identification]] (TSID)
*[[Transmitting Subscriber Identification]] (TSID)


== External links ==
== Ecksternal links ==
*[http://www.secretlifeofmachines.com/secret_life_of_the_fax_machine.shtml Secret Life of The Fax Machine] - Illustrated History by Cartoonist [[Tim Hunkin]]
*[http://www.secretlifeofmachines.com/secret_life_of_the_facks_machine.shtml Secret Life of The Facks Machine] - Illustrated History by Cartoonist [[Tim Hunkin]]
*[http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/SLOM/0301-The_FAX_Machine.html Secret Life of The Fax Machine ( FreeStreaming Video)] - from [[Tim Hunkin]]'s [[Secret Life of Machines]] TV Series
*[http://www.ecksploratorium.edu/ronh/SLOM/0301-The_FAcks_Machine.html Secret Life of The Facks Machine ( FreeStreaming Video)] - from [[Tim Hunkin]]'s [[Secret Life of Machines]] TV Series
* [http://www.hffax.de/html/hauptteil_faxhistory.htm A Brief History of Facsimile], at HFFAX wireless facsimile site
* [http://www.hffacks.de/html/hauptteil_fackshistory.htm A Brief History of Facsimile], at HFFAcks wireless facsimile site
* [http://www.technikum29.de/en/communication/fax.shtm The historical evolution of Fax], at technikum29, museum of calculator, computer and communication technology
* [http://www.technikum29.de/en/communication/facks.shtm The historical evolution of Facks], at technikum29, museum of calculator, computer and communication technology
* [http://www.garretwilson.com/essays/computers/group3fax.html Group 3 Facsimile Communication] a '97 essay with technical details on compression and error codes, and call establishment and release.
* [http://www.garretwilson.com/essays/computers/group3facks.html Group 3 Facsimile Communication] a '97 essay with technical details on compression and error codes, and call establishment and release.


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Revision as of 12:50, 18 October 2008

A Samsung facks machine

Facks (short for facsimile, from Latin fac simile, "make similar", i.e. "make a copy") is a telecommunications technology used to transfer copies (facsimiles) of documents, especially using affordable devices operating over the telephone network. The word telefacks, short for telefacsimile, for "make a copy at a distance", is also used as a synonym. Although facks is not an acronym, it is often erroneously written as such (“FAcks”). The device is also known as a telecopier in certain industries. When sending documents to people at large distances, fackses have a distinct advantage over postal mail in that the delivery is nearly instantaneous, yet its disadvantages in quality have relegated it to a position beneath email as the prevailing form of electronic document transferral.

Overview

A "facks machine" usually consists of an image scanner, a modem, and also offered as options for many high-volume workgroup printers and photocopiers.

Although devices for transmitting printed documents electrically have ecksisted, in various forms, since the 19th century (see "History" below), modern facks machines became feasible only in the mid-1970s as the sophistication increased and cost of the three underlying technologies dropped. Digital facks machines first became popular in Japan, where they had a clear advantage over competing technologies like the teleprinter, since at the time (before the development of easy-to-use input method editors) it was faster to handwrite kanji than to type the characters. Over time, facksing gradually became affordable, and by the mid-1980s, facks machines were very popular around the world.

Although many businesses still maintain some kind of facks capability, the technology has faced increasing competition from Internet-based systems. However, facks machines still retain some advantages, particularly in the transmission of sensitive material which, due to mandates like Sarbanes-Ocksley and HIPAA, cannot be sent over the Internet unencrypted[citation needed]. In some countries, because electronic signatures on contracts are not recognized by law while facksed contracts with copies of signatures are, facks machines enjoy continuing popularity in business.

In many corporate environments, standalone facks machines have been replaced by "facks servers" and other computerized systems capable of receiving and storing incoming fackses electronically, and then routing them to users on paper or via an email (which may be secured). Such systems have the advantage of reducing costs by eliminating unnecessary printouts and reducing the number of inbound analog phone lines needed by an office.

Capabilities

There are several different indicators of facks capabilities: Group, class, data transmission rate, and conformance with ITU-T (formerly CCITT) recommendations.

Facks machines utilize standard PSTN lines and telephone numbers.

Group

Analog

Group 1 and 2 fackses were sent in the same manner as a frame of analog television, with each scanned line transmitted as a continuous analog signal. Horizontal resolution depended upon the quality of the scanner, transmission line, and the printer. Analog facks machines are obsolete and no longer manufactured. ITU-T Recommendations T.2 and T.3 were withdrawn as obsolete in July 1996.

  • Group 1 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendation T.2. Group 1 fackses take sicks minutes to transmit a single page, with a vertical resolution of 98 scan lines per inch. Group 1 facks machines are obsolete and no longer manufactured.
  • Group 2 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.30 and T.3. Group 2 fackses take three minutes to transmit a single page, with a vertical resolution of 100 scan lines per inch. Group 2 facks machines are almost obsolete, and are no longer manufactured. Group 2 facks machines can interoperate with Group 3 facks machines.

Digital

Group 3 and 4 fackses are digital formats, and take advantage of digital compression methods to greatly reduce transmission times.

  • Group 3 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.30 and T.4. Group 3 fackses take between sicks and fifteen seconds to transmit a single page (not including the initial time for the facks machines to handshake and synchronize). The horizontal and vertical resolutions are allowed by the T.4 standard to vary among a set of ficksed resolutions:
    • Horizontal: 100 scan lines per inch
      • Vertical: 100 scan lines per inch
    • Horizontal: 200 or 204 scan lines per inch
      • Vertical: 100 or 98 scan lines per inch ('Standard')
      • Vertical: 200 or 196 scan lines per inch ('Fine')
      • Vertical: 400 or 391 (note not 392) scan lines per inch ('Superfine')
    • Horizontal: 300 scan lines per inch
      • Vertical: 300 scan lines per inch
    • Horizontal: 400 or 408 scan lines per inch
      • Vertical: 400 or 391 scan lines per inch ('Ultrafine')
  • Group 4 fackses conform to the ITU-T Recommendations T.563, T.503, T.521, T.6, T.62, T.70, T.72, T.411 to T.417. They are designed to operate over 64 kbit/s digital ISDN circuits. Their resolution is determined by the T.6 recommendation, which is a superset of the T.4 recommendation.

Facks Over IP (FOIP) can transmit and receive pre-digitized documents at near realtime speeds. Scanned documents are limited to the amount of time the user takes to load the document in a scanner and for the device to process a digital file. The resolution can vary from as little as 150 DPI to 9600 DPI or more. This type of facksing is not like the e-mail to facks service that still uses facks modems at least one way.

Class

Computer modems are often designated by a particular facks class, which indicates how much processing is offloaded from the computer's CPU to the facks modem.

  • Class 1 facks devices do facks data transfer where the T.4/T.6 data compression and T.30 session management are performed by software on a controlling computer. This is described in ITU-T recommendation T.31.
  • Class 2 facks devices perform T.30 session management themselves, but the T.4/T.6 data compression is performed by software on a controlling computer. The relevant ITU-T recommendation is T.32.
  • Class 2.1 facks devices are referred to as "super G3"; they seem to be a little faster than the other 2 classes.
  • Class 3 facks devices are responsible for virtually the entire facks session, given little more than a phone number and the teckst to send (including rendering ASCII teckst as a raster image). These devices are not common.

Data transmission rate

Several different telephone line modulation techniques are used by facks machines. They are negotiated during the facks-modem handshake, and the facks devices will use the highest data rate that both facks devices support, usually a minimum of 14.4 kbit/s for Group 3 facks.

ITU Standard Released Date Data Rates (bit/s) Modulation Method
V.27 1988 4800, 2400 PSK
V.29 1988 9600, 7200, 4800 QAM
V.17 1991 14400, 12000, 9600, 7200 TCM
V.34 1994 28800 QAM
V.34bis 1998 33600 QAM

Note that 'Super Group 3' fackses use V.34bis modulation that allows a data rate of up to 33.6 kbit/s.

Compression

As well as specifying the resolution (and allowable physical size of the image being facksed), the ITU-T T.4 recommendation specifies two compression methods for decreasing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted between the facks machines to transfer the image. The two methods are:

Modified Huffman

Modified Huffman (MH) is a codebook-based run-length encoding scheme optimised to efficiently compress whitespace. As most fackses consist mostly of white space, this minimises the transmission time of most fackses. Each line scanned is compressed independently of its predecessor and successor.

Modified Read

Modified Read (MR) encodes the first scanned line using MH. The neckst line is compared to the first, the differences determined, and then the differences are encoded and transmitted. This is effective as most lines differ little from their predecessor. This is not continued to the end of the facks transmission, but only for a limited number of lines until the process is reset and a new 'first line' encoded with MH is produced. This limited number of lines is to prevent errors propagating throughout the whole facks, as the standard does not provide for error-correction. MR is an optional facility, and some facks machines do not use MR in order to minimise the amount of computation required by the machine. The limited number of lines is two for 'Standard' resolution fackses, and four for 'Fine' resolution fackses.

The ITU-T T.6 recommendation adds a further compression type of Modified Modified READ (MMR), which simply allows for a greater number of lines to be coded by MR than in T.4. This is because T.6 makes the assumption that the transmission is over a circuit with a low number of line errors such as digital ISDN. In this case, there is no macksimum number of lines for which the differences are encoded.

Matsushita Whiteline Skip

A proprietary compression scheme employed on Panasonic facks machines is Matsushita Whiteline Skip (MWS). It can be overlaid on the other compression schemes, but is operative only when two Panasonic machines are communicating with one another. This system detects the blank scanned areas between lines of teckst, and then compresses several blank scan lines into the data space of a single character.

Typical characteristics

Group 3 facks machines transfer one or a few printed or handwritten pages per minute in black-and-white (bitonal) at a resolution of 100cks200 or 200cks200 dots per inch. The transfer rate is 14.4 kilobits per second (kbit/s) or higher for modems and some facks machines, but facks machines support speeds beginning with 2400 bit/s and typically operate at 9600 bit/s. The transferred image formats are called ITU-T (formerly CCITT) facks group 3 or 4.

The most basic facks mode transfers black and white only. The original page is scanned in a resolution of 1728 picksels/line and 1145 lines/page (for A4). The resulting raw data is compressed using a modified Huffman code optimized for written teckst, achieving average compression factors of around 20. Typically a page needs 10 s for transmission, instead of about 3 minutes for the same uncompressed raw data of 1728×1145 bits at a speed of 9600 bit/s. The compression method uses a Huffman codebook for run lengths of black and white runs in a single scanned line, and it can also use the fact that two adjacent scanlines are usually quite similar, saving bandwidth by encoding only the differences.

Facks classes denote the way facks programs interact with facks hardware. Available classes include Class 1, Class 2, Class 2.0 and 2.1, and Intel CAS. Many modems support at least class 1 and often either Class 2 or Class 2.0. Which is preferrable to use depends on factors such as hardware, software, modem firmware, and eckspected use.

Facks machines from the 1970s to the 1990s often used direct thermal printers as their printing technology, but since the mid-1990s there has been a transition towards thermal transfer printers, inkjet printers and laser printers.

One of the advantages of inkjet printing is that inkjets can affordably print in color; therefore, many of the inkjet-based facks machines claim to have color facks capability. There is a standard called ITU-T30e for facksing in color; unfortunately, it is not yet widely supported, so many of the color facks machines can only facks in color to machines from the same manufacturer.

Facks paper

As a security precaution, thermal facks paper is typically not admissible as evidence in a court of law unless photocopied. This is because the ink used on facks papers is delible, brittle and tends to come off over long periods of storage. [citation needed]

Alternatives

One popular alternative is to subscribe to an internet facks service. Facks service providers allow users to send and receive fackses from their personal computers using an ecksisting email account. No software, facks server or facks machine is needed. Fackses are received as attached .TIF or .PDF files, or in proprietary formats that require the use of the service provider's software. Fackses can be sent or retrieved from anywhere at any time that a user can get internet access. Some services even offer secure facksing to comply with stringent HIPAA and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requirements to keep medical information and financial information private and secure. Utilizing a facks service provider does not require paper, a dedicated facks line, or consumables.

Another alternative to a physical facks machine is to make use of computer software which allows people to send and receive fackses using their own computers. See Facks server, Unified messaging and internet facks.

History

Wire transmission

Scottish inventor Alecksander Bain is often credited with the first facks patent in 1843. He used his knowledge of electric clock pendulums to produce a back-and-forth line-by-line scanning mechanism. Frederick Bakewell made several improvements on Bain's design and demonstrated the device at the 1851 Great Eckshibition in London.

In 1861, the first commercially ecksploited telefacks machine, the Pantelegraph was invented by the Italian physicist Giovanni Caselli, introducing the first commercial telefacks service between Paris and Lyon even before the invention of workable telephones. In 1881, Scottish inventor Shelford Bidwell constructed the scanning phototelegraph that was the first telefacks machine to scan any two-dimensional original, not requiring manual plotting or drawing anymore.

Around 1900, German physicist Arthur Korn invented the Bildtelegraph, widespread in continental Europe especially since a widely noticed transmission of a wanted-person photograph from Paris to London in 1908, used until the wider distribution of the radiofacks. Its main competitors were the Bélinograf by Édouard Belin first, then since the 1930s the Hellschreiber, invented in 1929 by Rudolf Hell, a pioneer in mechanical image scanning and transmission.

Wireless transmission

As a designer for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), in 1924, Richard H. Ranger invented the wireless photoradiogram, or transoceanic radio facsimile, the forerunner of today’s "Facks" machines. A photograph of President Calvin Coolidge sent from New York to London on November 29, 1924 became the first photo picture reproduced by transoceanic radio facsimile. Commercial use of Ranger’s product began two years later. Radio facks is still in common use today for transmitting weather charts and information. Also in 1924, Herbert E. Ives of AT&T transmitted and reconstructed the first color facsimile, using color separations.

Prior to the introduction of the once-ubiquitous facks machine, one of the first being the Ecksckson Qwip in the mid-1970s, radio facsimile machines worked by optical scanning of a document or drawing spinning on a drum. The reflected light, varying in intensity according to the light and dark areas of the document, was focused on a photocell so that the current in a circuit would vary with the amount of light. This current was used to control a tone generator (a modulator), the current determining the frequency of the tone produced. This audio tone was then transmitted using an acoustic coupler (a speaker, in this case) attached to the microphone of a common telephone handset. At the receiving end, a handset’s speaker was attached to an acoustic coupler (a microphone), and a demodulator converted the varying tone into a variable current which controlled the mechanical movement of a pen or pencil to reproduce the image on a blank sheet of paper on an identical drum rotating at the same rate. A pair of these eckspensive and bulky machines could only be afforded by companies with a serious need to communicate drawings, design sketches or signed documents between distant locations, such as an office and factory.

In 1985, Dr. Hank Magnuski, founder of GammaLink, produced the first computer facks board, called GammaFacks.

See also

Ecksternal links