What is a Barcode Reader?
One of the cooler apps available for smartphones at the moment is a barcode reader. What is a barcode reader, I hear you ask? You see one every time you go to the cash register at a supermarket, a barcode reader scans the black and white barcode on your purchases with a laser and checks it against a database for the price and details. It's a fast reliable way of transferring information from a product to a computer.
Now you can make use of this yourself. Simply download barcode scanner software to your smartphone and start scanning. I have used several different ones for Android phones which have different nuances. ShopSavvy for example is used to search the web for the best price for a product. Google Goggle has a number of used, it scans logos, pictures, even landmarks, (using the GSP positioning feature to help identify these). It also scans barcode and where appropriate provides a link. There quite a few free barcode scanner apps to choose from.
Go here to find out more and see whether
there's an application you can download for your particular phone from the Google ZXing (pronounced "zebra crossing") Project site. ZXing is an open-source, multi-format 1D/2D barcode image processing library implemented in Java. Their focus is on using the built-in camera on mobile phones to photograph and decode barcodes on the device, without communicating with a server.
With that in mind what possibilities do you see for using this yourself. Imagine you're talking to someone. They say, "What's your email address?" or "Give me your phone number and I'll call you.", or perhaps, "Your website sounds great, what's the address?". If you have no pen and paper and it's too long to remember way not have them scan your T-shirt, your coffee mug or your baseball cap?
The barcode can be almost anything you like, the barcode on the T-shirt in the photo has a web address. You scan the barcode, the phone displays the address, you touch the link and the website is displayed. You can use it for anything which you might want to convey to other people.
Perhaps you're organizing an orienteering event, why not put the map reference for the meeting place on T-shirts for everyone? Company or club web address for events, web address on the back with the individual's email address on the front. The possibilities are endless, let you imagination run wild.
This is the front of the shirt.
If you have a scanner on your phone try by scanning the barcode on this shirt right off your computer screen,
or click the image, or here to go to the order form.
This is the back of the shirt.
or click the image, or here, to go to the website.
You get the idea. Think of the possibilities, phone numbers, street addresses, email addresses, almost anything. Buy one for your kids with your phone number and address in case they get lost when you're out. (although we advise against putting their name in case it is used by someone with less than good intentions.)
When someone asks you what is a barcode reader, now you'll not only be able to tell them, you can give them a demonstration, and send them to your website or give them your contact details.
If you like the idea fill in the form below and we'll create a T-shirt with your own personal barcoded message, with or without a plain text version.
Having found out what is a barcode reader, go here to order your personalized barcode T-shirt.
