Discuss the features and applications of an MICR.

MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. This technology allows computers to read information from the printed documents.

1. MICR characters are printed in special typefaces with a magnetic ink or toner, usually containing iron oxide.
2. As a machine decodes the MICR text, it first magnetizes the characters in the plane surface of the paper.
3. The characters are passed over an MICR read head, a device similar to the playback head of a tape recorder.
4. As each character passes over the head, it produces a unique wave form that can easily be identified by the system.
5. MICR codes can easily be read by humans.

MICR is used mainly by the banking industry to:

1. Ease the processing and clearance of cheques
2. Streamline the processing and clearance of other documents
3. Identify the document's originality