Final answer:
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is the technology that allows information on documents to be converted into machine-readable data through a scanner. It uses optical scanners to identify characters and convert them into digital text. Barcode scanners are an example of OCR technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology that allows information on documents to be converted into machine-readable data through a scanner is called OCR (Optical Character Recognition). OCR uses optical scanners to identify characters on a printed page and convert them into digital text that can be processed by a computer. This technology is commonly used in applications such as scanning documents, digitizing books, and extracting text from images.
One example of OCR technology is the barcode scanner, which uses laser beams to read barcodes on products in stores or libraries. By capturing the barcode's information, the scanner can quickly retrieve data about the product.
Another technology mentioned in the provided information is xerography, which refers to the electrostatic process used in most copy machines and laser printers. Although xerography is not directly related to the document-to-data conversion process, it is an important technology used for printing and copying documents.