TWAIN

Linking Applications and Images, What Is TWAIN?
Standard software protocol and application programming interface for communication between software applications and image acquisition devices. Article by Hewlett-Packard.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bps01512

The TWAIN Working Group
A not-for-profit organization which represents the imaging industry. TWAIN's purpose is to provide and foster a universal public standard which links applications and image acquisition devices. The mission of this organization is to continue to enhance the standard to accommodate future technologies.
http://www.twain.org