Fax machine landing on the ground. A facsimilie (fax) machine scans a document and converts the image into electronic form for transmission down a communications cable. The receiving fax machine then converts this information back into a printed copy of the original document. This technology has now been adapted to allow transmission of fax data between computers without requiring printed copies to be produced. This image could represent the redundancy of paper printing for fax machines. Any fax machine can also be used as a photocopier.