1. A handheld optical scanner for capturing images of text from a rendered document, comprising: a package adapted to be held in a hand of a user; and inside the package: an optical sensor that captures images of text from the rendered document; a proximity sensor that determines when the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of the rendered document; and a triggering mechanism that automatically causes the optical sensor to capture an image of text from the rendered document in response to the proximity sensor determining that the optical sensor is within the predetermined distance and orientation of the rendered document.