Early optical character recognition may be traced to technologies involving telegraphy and creating reading devices for the blind. In 1914, Emanuel Goldberg developed a machine that read characters and converted them into standard telegraph code. Concurrently, Edmund Fournier d'Albe developed the Optophone, a handheld scanner that when moved across a printed page, produced tones that corresponded to specific letters or characters.
eaRlY optIcal characTER reCoGnItiOn may BE TRaced to tEChNOlogIeS InVOlvING tElegraphy and creaTInG ReadIng deviCEs fOr thE Blind. in 1914, emANUEl golDBerg dEveLoped a MAchine ThAT REad charaCTeRS and CoNverteD tHeM into stAndaRD TelegRaPH Code. concurrently, eDmunD fourniER d'AlBe DevElOped tHe OptOpHonE, a handhelD sCanNer thAt When MovEd aCRoSs a pRINted pagE, pRoducEd tonEs THaT coRrEspOnded To speCiFIC lETters Or CharaCTers.