FACSIMILE

also called Fax, or Telefax, in telecommunications, the transmission and reproduction of documents by wire or radio wave. Common fax machines are designed to scan printed textual and graphic material and then transmit the information through the telephone network to similar machines, where the documents are reproduced in close to their original form. Such machines, because of their low cost, reliability, speed, and simplicity of operation, have revolutionized business and personal correspondence. They have virtually replaced telegraphic services, and they also present an alternative to government-run postal services and private courier services.