Barcode Scanner Buying Guide -some knowledge from Yumite
Ben
Yumite
2016-07-19 14:54:53
Barcode Scanner Buying Guide
Barcodes, machine-readable optical codes, have exploded in popularity since the 1970s, appearing nearly universally on grocery and retail products. More recently, barcodes have been utilized for everything from patient management, to assembly line production, to viral marketing campaigns. With them, barcode scanners, which read and decode barcodes, have become a familiar sight at grocery store and retail checkout counters, and are also used in settings from hospitals to warehouses. Since they are made for different uses, scanners come in many different types and sizes. Choosing the right scanner depends on knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each type, and matching that to the environment where the scanner will be used.
With the wide range of configurations and technologies in barcode scanners, it is possible to find a barcode reader for any use and budget. Small laser scanners are maneuverable and versatile, while a POS terminal might be better served by an in-counter system with a built in scale. While many businesses may only require 1D scanning, newer barcode systems use two dimensional barcodes which can only be read by 2 D scanners. Buyers can also find models with specialized technologies like long distance scanning, ruggedization, or wireless connectivity.
Barcode Scanner Basics
Since the late 1970s, barcodes have quickly become ubiquitous in both retail and industrial settings, often used on packaging to identify SKUs. A barcode scanner is an electronic device which reads barcodes, decoding and transmitting their information to a computer. Barcode scanners, like flatbed scanners, use a light source and a light sensor to gather optical information.
Defining a Barcode
Barcodes are optical representations of data, designed to store information and be read and interpreted by a machine. Early barcodes were formed by a series of vertical lines and gaps of various widths; these linear barcodes, like UPC codes, are found on almost all grocery and retail products today.
Barcodes, machine-readable optical codes, have exploded in popularity since the 1970s, appearing nearly universally on grocery and retail products. More recently, barcodes have been utilized for everything from patient management, to assembly line production, to viral marketing campaigns. With them, barcode scanners, which read and decode barcodes, have become a familiar sight at grocery store and retail checkout counters, and are also used in settings from hospitals to warehouses. Since they are made for different uses, scanners come in many different types and sizes. Choosing the right scanner depends on knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each type, and matching that to the environment where the scanner will be used.
With the wide range of configurations and technologies in barcode scanners, it is possible to find a barcode reader for any use and budget. Small laser scanners are maneuverable and versatile, while a POS terminal might be better served by an in-counter system with a built in scale. While many businesses may only require 1D scanning, newer barcode systems use two dimensional barcodes which can only be read by 2 D scanners. Buyers can also find models with specialized technologies like long distance scanning, ruggedization, or wireless connectivity.
Barcode Scanner Basics
Since the late 1970s, barcodes have quickly become ubiquitous in both retail and industrial settings, often used on packaging to identify SKUs. A barcode scanner is an electronic device which reads barcodes, decoding and transmitting their information to a computer. Barcode scanners, like flatbed scanners, use a light source and a light sensor to gather optical information.
Defining a Barcode
Barcodes are optical representations of data, designed to store information and be read and interpreted by a machine. Early barcodes were formed by a series of vertical lines and gaps of various widths; these linear barcodes, like UPC codes, are found on almost all grocery and retail products today.