<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
       
<CAPTION>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 27.


SCAN-OPTICS, INC.
AMENDED FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
<S>                                             <C>          <C>           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   12-MOS       12-MOS        12-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997   DEC-31-1996  DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1997   DEC-31-1996  DEC-31-1995

<CASH>                                         4,386,000     1,279,000      281,000
<SECURITIES>                                           0             0            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                 15,695,000     9,262,000   10,297,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                     104,000       673,000      413,000
<INVENTORY>                                   12,547,000    14,920,000   13,746,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              34,635,000    26,735,000   25,585,000
<PP&E>                                        19,215,000    19,322,000   18,149,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                15,355,000    15,147,000   14,340,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                38,707,000    31,121,000   29,514,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          9,992,000     9,417,000   11,346,000
<BONDS>                                                0             0            0
<PREFERRED>                                            0             0            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0             0            0
<COMMON>                                         144,000       139,000      139,000
<OTHER-SE>                                    27,589,000    21,068,000   17,612,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  38,707,000    31,121,000   29,514,000
<SALES>                                       41,361,000    30,275,000   27,642,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              56,608,000    46,034,000   42,084,000
<CGS>                                         25,066,000    19,622,000   19,487,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 51,066,000    42,851,000   43,460,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (149,000)      (82,000)     (49,000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0             0            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     0             0            0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                5,691,000     3,265,000   (1,327,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (99,000)       (9,000)     (72,000)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            5,790,000     3,274,000   (1,255,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0             0            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0             0            0
<CHANGES>                                              0             0            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,790,000     3,274,000   (1,255,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        .87           .50         (.19)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        .82           .49         (.19)
        

</TABLE>