The TWAIN initiative was originally launched in 1992 by leading industry vendors who recognized a need for a standard software protocol and applications programming interface (API) that regulates communication between software applications and imaging devices (the source of the data). TWAIN defines that standard. The three key elements in TWAIN are the application software, the Source Manager software and the Data Source software. The application uses the TWAIN toolkit which is shipped for free.
The Objectives of the TWAIN Working Group:
- Ensure users of image acquisition software and devices experience success each and every time.
- Ensure image-handling software and hardware compatibility.
- Define and distribute the TWAIN specification.
- Keep the specification current with state of practice software and hardware.
- Promote the adoption of the specification.
- Maintain and distribute a developer’s toolkit.
- Define TWAIN Test Guidelines.