Fax Machines

A fax machine... Yes, these are still used in a number of places on the planet. They are officially known as 'facsimile machines' since what they do is make a copy of the item you place into them. This copy is digitized into a TIFF format known as G3. Once in this format, they are transmitted via a modem to the receiver's fax machine. Upon being received, it generates a representation on some sort of paper (or, in newer so-called "fax software", it saves it to a file) for the other person to read or view.

Facsimile machines can only transmit in black and white, which allows for extremely high rates of compression. In fact, on some fax machines, it is faster to send a fax of a text page than it is to download the equivalent image from the Internet (since most people don't make their text images into black and white, or grayscale).

With the advent of the Internet and electronic mail, facsimile machines have not been in nearly the widespread use they once were. As a result, some people don't even know how to properly use one, nor how to realize a problem in sending a fax when they try. Since the fax machine uses a modem and standard telephone lines to transmit their data (similar to the modem you use in a computer (do I have to explain what that is too?)), most people that use a fax machine frequently have a secondary phone line for this device. Often times, before the advent of broadband Internet services, the fax line was shared with a dialup Internet line (again, do I have to explain dialup?).

Since I fully believe that anyone should be able to receive the information contained within this website, (sooooon.. soon soon) you may --click here-- to enter in your fax number so that you may receive a faxed copy of the main page, or this page, or a few other pages. Don't abuse it, because I think it's fun and so might others. Abuse it, and I'll hunt you down and disconnect any Internet access you ever had.

This is much like the Goldfish link, and I can't believe you clicked on it.