What is Fax Machine ? What is a Fax ?

What is a Fax Machine?

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A fax machine is a device which used to transmits textual information and photographic or images, through the telephone lines. Note the words — “used  to”, because nowadays due to the advance in technologies such as PDF (Portable Document Format) files and the invention of printers and internet,  its use has been reduced significantly. But, use of fax machine is not completely abandoned. It’s still in use for many businesses purpose like in offices and industries due to the advantages. You might have seen it to be use in many movies, series and serials to give that classic 90’s effect to the audience.

What is Fax?

The duplicated document generated from the fax machine is commonly called as a fax. The term "fax" is an abbreviated version of "facsimile," derived from the Latin word "facsimile," which translates to "make similar."

Who invented Fax Machine ?

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Fax machine was innovated by Alexander Bain, a Scottish mechanic and inventor. Bain's fax operated by employing a transmitter that scanned a metal flat surface using a stylus attached to a pendulum, capturing images from the surface. Drawing on his skills as an amateur clockmaker and experience with telegraph machines, Bain successfully created the first fax machine

Other than Alexander Bain, various individuals and organizations further refined the fax machine. In 1924, both the AT&T Corporation and the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) collaborated to develop an enhanced version, reducing the time required to send a single page of fax to just 3 minutes.

What are the different types of Fax machines ?

They are tons of models of fax machines that are produced nowadays. Here, is some descriptive information on some of most commonly used ones :

1.     Classic Analog Fax Machine : 

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Analog Fax Machines are oldest one in this list. They are like great grandparents to the digital ones. They are no longer in use and are no longer produced today. They were like a combination of telephone and very small monochrome technology screen attached to it which would give different options to generate a fax to its user. They took up to three minutes just to transmit a single page and had a vertical resolution of 96 scan lines per inch.

2.     Digital Fax Machines : 

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Unlike analog fax machines that rely on modulated signals over telephone lines, digital fax machines convert documents into digital data for more efficient and useful communication. the visual information and convert it into a series of binary digits, which are essentially a sequence of 0s and 1s. This fax machines use internet protocols (IP) for transmission.

3.    Internet Fax(Fax Over IP) : Internet Fax also known as Fax over IP (FoIP) has an innovative approach to transmit documents in such a way, making faxing more flexible, efficient, and aligned with the digital age at the same time. The process begins with the conversion of a physical document into a digital format. This can be achieved through scanning the document or using digital files directly. The digital data is then transformed into packets of information, much like other forms of digital communication. These packets are sent over the internet to the recipient's FoIP-enabled device. Internet Fax services often offer additional features such as digital signatures, file conversion, and cloud storage integration. This not only ease the faxing process but also improves the overall document management capabilities of users.

How does the Fax Machine work and how to use Fax Machine ?

The working of a fax machine involves a series of steps aimed at transmitting documents or images over a telephone line. To start the process, the user is needed to place the desired document  that he or she wants to send on the scanned bed of the fax machine. In some modern models, a document feeder may be used for scanning multiple pages efficiently.

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As the document lies on the scanning bed, the fax machine uses a light-sensitive sensor or either a camera to capture the visual information. This captured data is then converted into electrical signals, essentially transforming the content of the document into a digital format that can be easily transmitted.

Following the conversion, the digital signals are encoded into an analog signal using modulator (also, known as modem) that is compatible with standard telephone lines. The fax machine proceeds to dial the recipient's fax number, establishing a connection for the transmission of the fax to take place.

On the recipient's end, their fax machine detects the incoming analog signal and reverses the process using a demodulator , converting the analog signal back into a digital format. This digital information is then utilized to recreate the document on the receiving machine's paper.

Then, the receiving fax machine prints a copy of the transmitted document, providing a clear-cut copy of the original content. Throughout this sequence of actions, both the sending and receiving fax machines engage in communication to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the document transmission.

It's worth noting that while old fax machines operate using analog signals and telephone lines, advancements in technology have introduced Internet Fax, wherein the transmission occurs digitally over the internet. Despite the evolution of fax technology, the basic work principle of converting a document into electrical signals for transmission remains the same across various fax devices.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a Fax Machine ?

Following are the advantages of a fax machine that I know :

1.     Legal Validity: Faxes are often considered legally binding, making them suitable for sending signed documents and maintaining a record of important transactions like property documents, lawsuit files, etc.

2.     Ease of Use: Fax machines are generally easy to use, requiring minimal training for sending and receiving documents.

3.     Physical Signatures: Facilitates the inclusion of physical signatures on documents, which is important for certain legal and business transactions.

4.     Expense: This communication method is cost-effective, as it is not bound by  monthly or annual subscription fees. The necessities include only electricity, ink, paper, and a telephone.

As a thing has benefits, so has some drawbacks. Here are some things were fax machine lacks :

1.     Advancements in Technology: With the advancement in digital communication methods, fax machines are now outdated and are being replaced by more modern technologies like printers and scanners.

2.     Paper Usage: Faxing heavily relies on paper, contributing to environmental concerns and requiring storage space for hard copies eventually contributing carbon footprint of paper.

3.     Limited Features: Old fax machines have limited features compared to modern multifunction devices and digital communication methods.

4.     Maintenance Costs: Maintaining fax machines and its telephone lines can be costly, especially when considering repairs.

5.     Transmission Errors: Fax machines encounter errors during transmission, resulting in distorted images or incomplete documents. This can lead to the need for resending and delays.

6.     Security Concerns: While old fax machines offer physical security, they lack encryption features, making transmitted information vulnerable to be captured by hackers and thieves over telephone lines.

7.     Incompatibility with Digital Workflows : Faxing may not seamlessly integrate with modern digital workflows.

8.     Limited Mobility: Old fax machines are stationary and require a dedicated phone line, limiting their use in mobile or remote work settings.

Are Fax Machines still in work today ?

Of course, fax machines are still in work today due to their advantage of legal validity. Today, I got my new sim card and what I found in back of the sim card package is that it contained a fax number. Meaningly, they are still running it or they just forget to update the details on the package. Who knows ? (Why not have a debate on this !)

Did Modern Technologies replace Fax Machines ?

Yes, to a good extent, modern technologies have replaced fax machines in many contexts. While fax machines were once a unique means of document transmission, advancements in digital communication technologies have led to the adoption of more efficient and versatile alternatives. Here are some ways in which modern technologies have superseded traditional fax machines:

1.     Email and Attachments: Email and Gmail has become a prevalent and widely accepted method for sending electronic documents. Attachments can include scanned files or digital copies, completely finishing off the need for fax machines.

2.     Cloud-Based Document Sharing: Cloud-based platforms allow users to share and collaborate on documents in real-time. Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, TeraBox and Microsoft OneDrive have made it easier to share and edit documents without relying on fax machines.

3.     Digital Signatures: Advanced digital signature technologies enable users to sign documents electronically, providing a secure and legally valid alternative to the physical signatures often used in faxed documents.

4.     Advanced Communication Systems: Many organizations are adopting unified communication systems that combine various communication channels, including email, instant messaging, and document sharing. These systems streamline communication and reduce the need for standalone fax machines.

5.     Printers : Modern printers and copiers often come with built-in fax capabilities, allowing users to send and receive faxes alongside other functions. So, you now know who reduce the use of fax machines.

6.     Mobile Applications: Mobile applications for document scanning, signing, and sharing have become popular, providing users with on-the-go alternatives to fax machines. These apps often integrate seamlessly with cloud services.

While fax machines may still be used in some industries or situations, the overall trend is a shift toward digital and more communication methods that contains all-in-one technology as modern technologies offer faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to faxing.

References : Finally, I would like give acknowledgements and give credits to the websites from where I getting all this precious information from :

1. Fax Machine: What is a Fax Machine? | How Does fax machine work | Lenovo Singapore. (n.d.). https://www.lenovo.com/sg/en/glossary/fax-machine/
2. Vedantu. (n.d.). What is a Fax Machine and How Does It Work? VEDANTU. https://www.vedantu.com/evs/how-does-a-fax-machine-work
3. Kirvan, P. (2023, April 28). fax. Networking. https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/fax
4. Corwin, G. (2022, May 17). A brief history of Fax Machine - ULTATEL blog. ULTATEL Blog. https://blog.ultatel.com/fax-machine-history

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