To store a document, you first have to read it into the computer. You
do this by means of a device called a scanner. This works like the top
half of a photocopier:
you put documents into it and it scans them and converts them into
computer-readable form.
There are a large number of scanners on the market. For document scanning,
you need a flat-bed or (for higher volumes of documents) a sheet-feeding
scanner:
hand-held scanners are not suitable. The maximum resolution of the
scanner should be at least 300dpi (dots per inch). Color scanning is not
normally necessary,
and the number of grey scales makes no difference to the legibility
of text. Of course, if you plan to store illustrations as well as text,
you should get a scanner
capable of handling these.