Final answer:
The assertion that OCR devices use light reflection to read coded patterns for identification is true. Such technology interprets light reflected off different surfaces to recognize alphanumeric characters. Laser scanners and fiber optic cables use similar optical principles for data reading and signal transmission, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Optical Character Recognition (OCR) devices use light reflection to read differences in code patterns in order to identify a labeled item is true. OCR technology works by analyzing the light reflected from the surface of an item to detect patterns that correspond to alphanumeric characters. These devices are used for a variety of applications, including sorting mail, digitizing printed documents, and automatic number plate recognition, among others.
Devices like barcode scanners also employ similar principles by using a laser beam to read barcodes, which are unique patterns representing data. These laser-based scanners detect the reflection of light off the contrasting lines of a barcode, decode the pattern, and send the information to a computer system. Reflective properties and the way light interacts with surfaces, such as refraction and reflection, are important in the design of computers and robot sensors as well.
Refraction is another optical phenomenon that is useful in fiber optic cables for transmitting signals, enabling communication over long distances with high efficiency and speed.