Patent Publication Number: US-2007099168-A1

Title: Method of configuring and evaluating a document

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      There is an ongoing need for people to select from a variety of choices in their daily life. Although most choices are verbal, instinctive, or even automatic; some of the most notable and important choices require careful thought and deliberation. Examples of the latter include; filling out surveys, taking assessment or placement tests, voting for candidates, updating medical records etc. Most experts agree that in the future, computers will become so ubiquitous that essentially everyone will have direct access to a computer when making choices, although to date; this has not happened, and peoples experiences when making choices has been mixed. For example, using computers for interactive driver&#39;s license testing has enjoyed a long period of success, and recently adaptive computerized graduate school testing has shown promise. However, in many other applications, there has been a lack of acceptance for people to directly interface with computers due to concerns about cost, security, and possibly general unfamiliarity with computer technology. For instance, neither directly casting votes, nor routine testing in academic settings are directly performed by computers, rather, in both of these situations, choices are performed by filling in bubbles on ballots and answer sheets.  
      There are at least three major problems with standard methods for filling in bubbles on ballots or answer sheets. First, the lack of randomization, or the strict ordering, in which choices are presented. Second, the unnaturalness of testing when questions are presented in one format and answers are required in another format. Finally, the disassociation of test answers with test questions in a learning environment.  
      In the first case, strict ordering makes a difference in the outcome of balloting and testing. For instance, when voting, the order in which the candidates are presented tends to bias voter preference, the preference being given to a first candidate. In other words, assuming there are two candidates are on a ballot and all other factors are roughly equal, the first candidate on the ballot generally receives a greater number of votes than the second candidate. This problem of non-randomization or strict ordering also applies to testing, where test questions that are arranged in a predictable fashion make it easier to copy answers from another persons test.  
      Secondly, the great majority of standardized tests require users to read questions in one format and answer these questions by filling in bubbles in another format, for example on a bubble sheet. Since the test questions and the answer sheet are independent from each other, it is necessary for the test taker to read and formulate answers to the questions and then go to the answer sheet exercising care when filling in the corresponding bubble to the question. This testing method is both unnatural and may lead to significant testing errors, especially in the situation where a student is off by a question or a bubble.  
      A third problem also occurs when testing questions are in one format and the answer sheet is in another format. When the answer sheet is graded, a report typically consists of scores, raw numbers, or a variety of sometimes misleading statistics based on question types. The causal linkage between actual questions asked and the answers recorded is greatly reduced because the question sheet and answer sheet are separated, thereby leading to reduced insight and learning.  
      Because there are significant numbers of applications where people do not or will not directly interface with computers; and since it may be many years or even decades before all of society is able to directly interface with computers to make important choices; it appears for at least the next few years, answer sheets in the form of bubble sheets will continue to become commonplace. Therefore, there is a need to develop an enhanced or alternate method to improve the accuracy and efficacy of balloting, standardized test taking, marketing surveys, order entry, health data entry, laboratory testing, prescription processing and in other situations where information is gathered or choices are made using bubble sheets.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a system architecture diagram for a document configuration and evaluation system according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a first version of a printed document from a printing device according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the first version of the printed document with a completed user designation area being determined by a printing device according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  shows a second version of the printed document with printable information from the completed user designation area that have been determined by a printing device according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  shows another example of a first version of a printed document before a user has completed the user designation areas according to one embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  shows a process flow chart that provides an example of the document configuration and evaluation system according to one embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      The embodiments of the invention are directed to a system which configures and prints a first version of a document, accepts answers filled in by a user on the first version of a printed document, evaluates the answers on the first version of a printed document, and prints additional information on the first version of a printed document thereby creating a second version of a printed document.  
       FIG. 1  shows a system architecture diagram for a document configuring and evaluation system according to one embodiment of the invention. Printing device  100  is connected to computer  500 , and although the connection has been shown to be direct between printing device  100  and computer  500 , the connection can also be established indirectly through routing networks etc. Printing device  100  may include an inkjet printer, a laser printer, an electrophotographic printer, a thermal printer, an impact printer, a transfer based printer, an all-in-one printer, or any other type of printer capable of printing information on paper. Printing device  100  and computer  500  communicate together for the purpose of printing documents where data for the documents generally resides on computer  500 . Computer  500  may output data for document generation to printing device  100 . Printing device  100  may access data from computer  500  or the internal memory of printing device  100 , etc.  
      It is not necessary for data to reside on computer  500 . Data may reside on server  510  where printing device  100  may access data from server  510  through network  520  and computer  500 . Network  520  may be an internet or intranet connection, a wired or wireless connection, and may include routers, switches, hubs, or other network communication devices.  
      Although in  FIG. 1  printing device  100  has been shown to be connected directly to computer  500 , printing device  100  may also be connected to a printer network where multiple printing devices  100  are connected to a single computer  500 . Alternately, multiple computers  500  may be connected to a single printing device  100  using a printer network, print spooler, or similar device. Likewise, multiple printing devices  100  may be connected to multiple computers  500  or other printing devices  100 . Also, printing device  100  may access data directly through a network connection to one or more servers  510 . This network connection and the previously mentioned options are not shown for the purpose of clarity, however, these options can be used allowing broader distribution and sharing of data between computers  500 , printing devices  100 , and servers  510 . It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  is not limited to a single printing device  100 , single computer  500 , single server  510 , or single network  520 , but rather multiple printing devices, computers, servers, and networks can be used along with network devices such as hubs, switches, routers, etc.  
      As an example of a printing application, data resides on a computer  500  or a server  510  and when desired, document  200  is printed on printing device  100 . Document  200  can take the form of many documents for the purpose of voting, health questionnaires, test taking, marketing, order entry, health data entry, laboratory testing, prescription processing etc. Document  200  is not limited to, but for example, takes the form of an educational test question shown in  FIG. 2  to illustrate one embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows an example of a first version of a printed document  200  from a printing device  100  according to one embodiment of the invention. As in reference to  FIG. 1 , data that describes a document may be stored in many places. For example, the data may be stored in computer  500 , server  510 , internal memory of printing device  100 , etc. as shown in  FIG. 1 . This data is called first data and describes an initial document. The first data is configured by the computer  500  in  FIG. 1  and printed by printing device  100  to yield a first version of a printed document  200  in  FIG. 2 . An optical mark reader is included on Hewlett-Packard DeskJet™, PhotoSmart™, and OfficeJet™ printers. The optical mark reader is a light emitting diode including a phototransistor and is used for paper alignment and media (paper) sensing found on contemporary Hewlett-Packard printers. The optical mark reader is typically used to monitor the print quality of the first version of document  200  to determine, for instance, whether the printing device  100  is low on ink, nozzle print quality, print cartridge to paper alignment etc. The optical mark reader for the inkjet printing devices  100  mentioned above is coupled to a print cartridge carriage and moves with a print head on the print cartridge. Although the primary purpose of the optical mark reader is to monitor print quality, this optical mark reader can also be used to read user marks on printed documents in user designated areas. Use of the optical mark reader to read these user marks on printed documents will be described later on.  
      Document  200  is just one example of what can be printed and therefore does not limit the invention, since there are many other examples of printed documents which could also exemplify an embodiment of the invention.  
      Document  200  includes question  1  ( 202 ) which is printed in human readable text. Question  1  ( 202 ) asks the reader about the shape of a triangle. In general, there may be more human readable text to help establish context for question  1  ( 202 ), however for clarity of  FIG. 2 , this human readable text is not shown. A unique machine readable mark  204  is printed near question  1  ( 202 ) and allows a machine, such as a computer  500 , shown in  FIG. 1  to uniquely identify question  1  ( 202 ) by associating the code word of machine readable mark  204  to question  1  ( 202 ) in computer  500  shown in  FIG. 1 . Similarly, machine readable marks  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 , and  238  are used to identify answer choices. In this example, machine readable marks  204 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236  and  238  are shown as barcodes, but in general, checkerboard codes, or other machine readable marks could be used and thus machine readable marks  204 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 , and  238  are not limited to barcodes. The process of configuring and evaluating a document is briefly described below, however, the configuring and evaluating process will be described in detail in reference to  FIG. 4 .  
      In  FIG. 2 , triangular shape  210  is human readable and represents one answer to question  1  ( 202 ). Bubble  220  is a user designated choice corresponding to triangular shape  210 . If the user thinks that triangular shape  210  is the correct answer to question  1  ( 202 ), the user can fill in bubble  220  by marking on document  200  with a pen, pencil, or other device to designate the choice of a triangular shape  210 . Bubble  220  is in a user designation area  229  shown by a dashed box, however the user designation area  229  box is not printed on document  200 , rather it is shown to aid in the description of an embodiment of the invention. Machine readable mark  230  serves to uniquely identify the answer to a question since bubble  220 , triangular shape  210 , and machine readable mark  230  are all associated with each other. In a similar manner, other geometric shapes  212 ,  214 ,  216 , and  218  and bubbles  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228  are matched correspondingly to machine readable marks  232 ,  234 ,  236 , and  238 .  
      After first version of printed document  200  has been printed, it is ready for a user to complete. The user takes first version of printed document  200  and completes question  1  ( 202 ) by filling in a bubble within the user designation area  229  closest to a geometric shape corresponding to the users answer. Candidate bubbles for answer choices corresponding to triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, and circle are bubbles  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228  respectively.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the first version of printed document  200  having a completed user designation area  229 . In this case, bubble  224  within the user designation area  229  just below the geometric shape of a pentagon  214  has been filled-in to signify that the users&#39; answer choice for question  1  ( 202 ) is a pentagon  214 . Machine readable mark  234  is associated with bubble choice  224  and pentagon  214 .  
      After first version of printed document  200  is completed by filling in the appropriate bubble in user designation area  229 , first version of printed document  200  is fed back into the printing device  100 . As previously mentioned, an optical mark reader (not shown) is used to determine print quality, but in the embodiment of the invention, the optical mark reader can also be used to read, for example, machine readable mark  204  (to identify the code word for question  1  ( 202 )), user completed bubble  224  (to identify users answer of a pentagon  214 ) in user designation area  229 , and machine readable mark  234  (to identify the code word for answer  214 ) as shown in  FIG. 3 . In other words, the optical mark reader detects the filled in bubble  224  in user designation area  229  as the users answer choice to question  1  ( 202 ) which is a pentagon  214 . In this example, an optical mark reader is used to detect the bubble  224  filled-in by the user in the user designation area  229 . An optical mark reader is coupled to the inkjet print cartridge carrier in Hewlett-Packard Desk Jet™, PhotoSmart™, and OfficeJet™ inkjet printers and serves to enable this task. It is not necessary that the printing device  100  use an optical mark reader, since other methods for reading machine readable marks  204  and  234 , and filled in bubble  224 , can be used. These alternate methods may take the form of a flat bed scanner, an all-in-one (printer, scanner, facsimile, and copier), a barcode reader, etc.  
      In the case where the optical mark reader, the flat bed scanner, a barcode reader, etc. cannot, or has difficulty reading marks in the user designation area, the completed first versions of printed documents  200  which cannot be read or have difficulty being read can be sent to an alternate paper output tray such as a second paper output tray in a printing device  100 . The second paper output tray is often called a duplex tray. The documents in the second or duplex tray can conveniently be examined for marking errors, feed errors, or similar types of problems.  
      Both the code for the machine readable mark  204  (corresponding to question  1  ( 202 )) and the code for the machine readable mark  234  (the answer choice of pentagon  214  via filled in bubble  224 ), are output to a computer or server as shown in  FIG. 1 . The computer or server evaluates the two codes, one associated with question  1  ( 202 ) and one associated with answer choice of pentagon  214  and determines whether the answer is correct. Data is sent back to the printing device  100 . This data is termed second data and the type of data sent depends on whether the answer choice is correct or not. In this example, the answer of a pentagon  214  in response to question  1  ( 202 ) regarding the shape of a triangle is incorrect, and the second data sent to the printing device  100  includes information printed on document  200  in response to the incorrect answer choice as shown in  FIG. 4 . As another example, if the user had instead chosen the correct answer, triangle  210 , the second data sent to the printing device might include a comment stating: “Your answer is correct, the triangle shown is an equilateral triangle. What other types of triangles are there?” 
      After first version of printed document  200  having completed user designation area  229  is still in the printing device  100 , second printable information is printed on first version of printed document  200  from second data to create a second version of printed document  250  shown in  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the invention. Although it is preferable to keep document  200  in the printing device, document  200  can be removed from the printing device for the purpose of reading it by another print device. Even if printing device  100  does not have an optical mark reader, this function can be enabled by the scanning portion of an all-in-one (printer, scanner, facsimile, and copier) which may be used to read the optical marks.  
      Document  250  is called a second version of printed document  250  because a second set of data is printed on first version of printed document  200  as the first version of printed document  200  passes through printing device  100  a second time. Returning to the example shown in  FIG. 3 , since the user marked bubble  224  in the user designation area  229  as the chosen answer to question  1  ( 202 ), the computer  500  or server  510  in  FIG. 1  evaluates both the code of machine readable mark  204  associated with question  1  ( 202 ) and the code of machine readable mark  234  associated with answer choice of pentagon  214  and determines whether the answer choice is correct. In this case the answer choice is incorrect, and the printing device  100  accepts information from the computer  500  or server  510  in  FIG. 1 , and prints an X mark  225 , a check mark  220  (associated with the correct answer which is a triangle  210 ), and a textual explanation  240  as to why the answer chosen is incorrect on first version of printed document  200  thereby yielding a second version of printed document  250  in  FIG. 4 . The optical mark reader can be used to verify that the second set of data has been printed on second version of printed document  200  and that, for example, the printing device is not out of ink, toner, or other marking material. Also, rather than using a check mark  220  or an X mark  225 , other types of marks can be used and printed in a variety of colors.  
      In a typical situation, more than one question  202  will be on a document. In this case, the bubbled answers, for example  224 , to the question  202  can be read by the optical mark reader. Directly after reading the bubbled answer choice  224 , the printing device  100  can mark the correct answer  220 , the incorrect answer  225  and user comments  240  as shown in document  250  in  FIG. 4 . All this processing happens before the printing device goes on to read the next question. Operation in this manner exercises an inkjet print cartridge more frequently and helps to prevent the nozzles in an inkjet cartridge from clogging rather than reading all the questions on the document one after the other and then returning to the questions to print the answers and users comments.  
      In some situations, it is desirable to have an electronic copy of the second version of the printed document  250 . This second version of the printed document  250  may be stored in a database where the electronically stored second version of a printed document  250  may be a replacement for the second version of printed document or it may augment the second version of printed document  250 . The electronically stored version of the printed document  250  may be archived, printed at a later date, reviewed locally, reviewed remotely, evaluated remotely in comparison with other documents by educators, students, health care personnel, government officials, marketing and sales people, etc. depending upon the application of the embodiment of the invention.  
      It should be appreciated that in an embodiment of the invention, as a first version of document  200  passes through printing device  100  a second time to create a second version of document  250 , second version of document  250  becomes a self contained record of question  1  ( 202 ), candidate answer choices  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 , and  218 ; user designation area  229 , including bubbles  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228 ; and textual explanation  240 , which serves as direct feedback to a test taker, teacher etc. The embodiment of the invention thereby provides a direct one-to-one correspondence between, for example, question  1  ( 202 ) and answer choice  224 , even though in error, thereby promoting and facilitating learning. This method of learning is much better than existing methods where answer choices are on, for example, a bubble sheet and the test taker is given an answer key, summary report, etc. requiring the test taker to tediously cross reference answers to question books which may not be readily available and with no user feedback.  
      Embodiments of the invention have been described in reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , however, there are variations to a first version of printed document  200  that may be useful for some types of testing and are shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows another example of a first version of a printed document  300  before a user has completed the user designation areas according to one embodiment of the invention. First version of printed document  300  is somewhat different than first version of printed documents  200  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  in that it has one machine readable mark  302  which can function as a unique test identifier. First version of printed document  300  includes questions  310 ,  340 ,  370 , and  390 , user designation areas  322 ,  352 ,  382 , and  392 . Human readable answer choices  320 ,  350 ,  380 , and  390  are placed proximate to user designation areas  322 ,  352 ,  382 , and  392 . Markings in the user designation area closest to the answer choices select the answer choice. The dashed boxes around user designated areas  322 ,  352 ,  382 , and  392  are not printed on first version of printed document  300 , but rather are used to help illustrate and describe  FIG. 5 . After first version of printed document  300  is printed, the user fills in user designation areas closest the answer choices. Question  1  ( 310 ) is the same as question  1  ( 202 ) in  FIG. 2 . To obtain a correct answer choice, the user fills in the bubble in the user designation area  322  directly below and corresponding to the shape of a triangle. In question  2  ( 340 ) the format of the question is similar to question  1  ( 202 ) in  FIG. 2 , and to obtain the correct answer choice, the user fills in the bubble in the user designation area  352  directly below and corresponding to the closest approximation to PI. In question  3  ( 370 ), the format of the question is changed somewhat, in that the user fills in the user designation area  382  that is to the left of answer choices  380 . In question  4  ( 390 ), the format of the question is changed again in that the answer choices are embedded in the user designation area  392 . Notice that one machine readable mark  302  is printed on document  300  rather than the many machine readable marks  204 ,  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 , and  238  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      Rather than evaluating a machine readable mark code for each question and each answer as shown in  FIG. 2 , the evaluation system keeps track of answers by associating a first version of document  300  with a machine readable mark, for example the machine readable mark  302  in  FIG. 5 . An electronic version of a first version of a printed document  300  can be saved to a server, computer, or other processing device, and upon user completion of filling in the user designation areas  322 ,  352 ,  382 , and  392 , thereby creating a second version of printed document  300 , these user designated choices can be evaluated by the saved electronic version of the document  300 .  
      Alignment of a second version of printed document  300  to printer  100  can be performed by aligning the optical mark reader to a machine readable mark  302  or by aligning the second version of printed document  300  to one or more alignment target marks such as  306 .  
      Although several types of question formats have been shown in  FIG. 5 , these examples have been cited to help illustrate embodiments of the invention, and thus the embodiments of the invention are not limited to the formats described by these examples. Other formats and printed user feedback which include photographs, colors, references to other information in the form of hyperlinks, citations etc. may also be used without departing from the intent of the embodiment of the invention. An identification number, name, alias, or other unique identifier may also be included in a user designation area to be filled in by the user, and may be used for tracking data and results.  
       FIG. 6  is an example of a process flow chart providing the steps for a document configuration and evaluation system according to one embodiment of the invention. In step  400 , the first document data is accessed. The data may be in the form of a database on a server, a local computer, local processor, processor in a printing device etc. The data may include a variety of test questions, ballot information for different regional areas, marketing surveys, order information, health information, laboratory testing information, prescription processing information, survey questions, health related questionnaires, etc.  
      In step  405  document data configured. After the first data has been accessed, the data is configured into a printable document with user designation areas. The data may be configured into a printable document that may consist of randomized questions from a database for the purpose of reducing bias in balloting, reducing the likelihood of copying, grouping questions by level of proficiency etc.  
      In step  410  a first version of a document is printed. After the first data has been accessed and configured, the first data is used to print a first version of document  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, document  200  may include one or more questions  202 ; one or more answer choices  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216  or  218 ; one or more user designation areas  229  including bubbles  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , or  228  which are proximate to answer choices  210 ,  212 ,  214   216 , or  218  respectively; one or more machine readable marks  204  associated with question  1  ( 202 ); or one or more machine readable marks  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 , or  238 . The machine readable marks  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 , and  238  correspond to bubbles  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  238 , and human readable answer choices  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 , and  218  respectively.  
      In step  412 , an optical mark reader may be used to verify that the first version of document  200  has been properly printed. The optical mark reader may verify that the printing device  100  is not out of ink, low on printing supplies, etc. by detecting printed information on document  200 .  
      In step  415 , a user completes user designation areas on first version of printed document. A user completes bubbles  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , or  228  in one or more user designation areas  229  on a first version of document  200  shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, the user has completed bubble  224  in user designation area  229 .  
      In step  420 , one or more user designation areas are determined and one or more machine readable marks are read. Printing device  100  determines bubble  224  in user designation area  229  corresponding to answer choice  214 , a pentagon, and reads the unique code of machine readable mark  234  associated with the answer choice of a pentagon  214 . Printing device  100  also determines the unique code associated with machine readable mark  204  indicating the question. The chosen answer of pentagon  214  by marking of bubble  224  in the user designation area  229 , and the machine readable marks  204  and  234  may also be read by an optical mark reader, barcode reader, or other device such as the scanner in an all-in-one (printer, scanner, fax, copier).  
      In step  425  the printing device  100  outputs second data to a computer, processor, or other type of computing device. The printing device  100  outputs second data to a computer including the code for the machine readable mark  234  which corresponds to users answer choice  214  by marked bubble  224  in user designation area  229 . The printing device  100  also outputs second data including the code for a machine readable mark  204  which corresponds to question  1  ( 202 ). These two codes are accepted by a computer  500 , server  510 , or another processing device or devices including one or more computers or servers and evaluated as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      In step  430  the printing device  100  accesses third data from a computer, processor or computing device. The printing device  100  accesses third data from computer which is the result of evaluation of the codes from machine readable marks  204  (the question) and  234  (the answer) from computer  500 , server  510 , or other processing device as shown in  FIG. 1 . The third data includes information to be printed on first version of document  200  by evaluating the answer choice to the question.  
      In step  435 , information is printed on first version of printed document to create a second version of printed document. Information in step  430  is printed on first version of printed document  200  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Once this information is printed on first version of printed document  200 , first version of printed document  200  is termed a second version of printed document  250 . For instance, in  FIG. 4 , second version of printed document  250  includes the correct answer choice identified with a check mark  221 , the incorrect answer choice identified with an X mark  225 , and a textual explanation  240  as feedback to the user.  
      In step  440 , verification of a second printed document is performed. An optical mark reader may be used to verify that the second version of document  250  has been properly printed. The optical mark reader verifies that the printing device  100  is not out of ink, low on printing supplies, etc. by detecting printed information  10  on second version of printed document  250  such as check mark  221 , X mark  225 , or textual explanation  240  in  FIG. 4 .  
      As described previously, steps  420 ,  425 ,  430 ,  435 , and  440  may be done one question at a time for-the purpose of reducing the clogging of inkjet nozzles and preserving nozzle health. After steps  420 ,  425 ,  430 , and  440  are performed on one question, they are performed on the next question, etc. until no more questions remain.  
      The embodiments described in the invention allow users to access and make use of a low cost, highly personal interactive testing system. This opportunity is afforded to many users because a low cost printing device  100  has been coupled with an optical mark reader enabling plain paper to be used rather than expensive specialized equipment, forms, and supplies. By integrating the printing devices&#39;  100  printing function with the reading function, users are provided with a system capable of customizing content, randomizing questions, directly linking questions to answers, providing feedback on documents to users and other useful features. Along with the embodiments in the invention, all of these capabilities are possible using DeskJet™, Photosmart™, and OfficeJet™ inkjet printers by Hewlett-Packard, since these printers have optical mark readers built into the printer coupled to the inkjet cartridge assembly for the purpose of monitoring print quality. Prior to the embodiments described in the invention, limitations associated with testing and many other application could not provide for the questions and answers to be placed on the same bubble form document, would not allow the use of pictures or graphics on bubble form documents, and did not enable an effective way of configuring and analyzing mass randomization of questions and answers on bubble form documents. Using the embodiments described and illustrated in the invention, these limitations have been eliminated and therefore a much richer, intuitive, interactive, and cost effective system has been developed using bubble form documents. It is appreciated that bubble form documents have been used to illustrate and explain embodiments of the invention, however it should be understood that a wide variety of user marking techniques could be used without deviating from the intent of the invention. For example, check marks in boxes, circles around correct answers, punched through areas within a user designated area etc. may be used.  
      The use of the integrated optical mark reader in a printing device for configuring and evaluating documents where the marks are made in user designated areas can also be used in a wide variety of applications such as but not limited to: Voting, where regional candidates may be printed on a ballot in randomized order to remove candidate bias and then read by the same printing device upon completion of voting and results uploaded to a database. Printing customized marketing questionnaires and reading them on the same printing device that printed the questionnaires, where the data may be sent to a database. Order entry, where choices are marked on a printed form and then read in by a printer to place an order. Health questionnaires to assess the currency of patient health before administering treatment and recording information to a database. Age, gender, and other specific questions about health history may be answered on a document and information may be sent to a database to update a patients&#39; health record. Lab information where analytical tests are specified on a printed form and after analytical tests have been performed, test results are read from the completed form by a printing device and data may be uploaded to a database. Prescription processing, where health care providers may prescribe a drug or treatment by completing a form, where the pharmacy or therapy office reads the prescribed treatment using a printing device with a optical mark reader and may upload this information to a database. Finally, there are many other applications where choices are made everyday that are enabled through the use of one or more optical mark readers in a printing device using a computing unit described in an embodiment of the invention, and it should be understood that the examples cited above are not limiting.  
      Although several specific embodiments and examples of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The invention is limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.