What feature does “Auto Scan Mode” have?
Hayakawa: To put it simply, it can automatically specify settings suited to the originals and scan and save them. All you have to do is just press the button on your All-In-One printer or scanner, or click the button of the software. Previously, users were supposed to select the type of documents, preview scanned images, specify the resolution and image processing, adjust cropping frames, and so on. With “Auto Scan Mode”, all of these steps are done automatically, so that users are freed from this lengthy process. In addition, the file format for saving the scanned image is automatically determined based on the type of originals so that even novice users can easily enjoy scanning without worrying about complicated steps. For example, photos, business cards, CD/DVD labels and film are saved in JPEG format, while text documents like magazines and newspapers are saved in PDF format.
In what way does it come in handy?
Hayakawa: There are three methods to take advantage of “Auto Scan Mode”. One is “Push Scan”, which only requires pushing the button on the All-In-One printer or the scanner. With just a touch of the button, those unfamiliar with PCs can enjoy scanning easily without operating a PC.
The next method is clicking the “SCAN” button on the one-click mode screen in the bundled software called “MP Navigator EX”. In this way, users have an option to modify detailed settings to suit their purpose, such as the file name, folder and file format.
Scanned images with “Push Scan” and “MP Navigator EX” are displayed as thumbnails, so that they can be printed, attached to e-mails, and converted to text files (OCR) easily.
The third method is clicking the “SCAN” button on the “Auto Scan Mode” tab of the “ScanGear” driver software. “ScanGear” can be used not only from “MP Navigator EX” but also from other image editing or organizing software. “ScanGear” has three modes, “Basic Mode”, “Advanced Mode”, and “Auto Scan Mode”. “Auto Scan Mode” is an advanced version of “Multi Scan”, a previous year’s mode.
Why did you decide to introduce a feature like this?
Hayakawa: It was around the autumn of 2006 when we actually started working on “Auto Scan Mode”. Comparing All-In-One printers and scanners in the way they were used, we found out that the former was more often used as a printer or a copier than as a scanner although users of All-In-One printers overwhelmingly outnumbered those of scanners. There were many users who would likely say, “I bought a printer, and it came with a scanner. For what can I use?” This drove us to be serious about increasing scanner users. We would rather hear them say “Scanning is really simple with just one push.”, “Oh, that’s an easy way to make PDF files.”, or “I didn’t know even silver halide photos can be digitalized through scanning. Now I can organize them as data”. That was a starting point for our endeavor.
Does it mean that you targeted novice users?
Hayakawa: Our aim is for novice users to readily enjoy advanced features of scanning Canon can provide. Also, scanner-savvy users are benefited. Many of those who opt to buy scanners intend to scan a lot of documents. Specifying the document size, resolution and other detailed settings every round of scanning would decrease their working efficiency. “Auto Scan Mode”, however, makes document filing efficient by drastically shortening the scanning process.
