Barcode scanning technologies have been employed for years in many commercial applications. It has only been recently, as technology continues to shrink while processing power grows, that barcode use has begun to see widespread residential and consumer utility. One exciting aspect of said technologies are their mobile applications. By using existing hardware and the capabilities of specialized software, barcodes are becoming useful as far more than a tool for quickly scanning prices.
In brief, barcodes are a series of lines and dots printed on products. These images adopt several forms, and reveal specialized alphabetical and numerical codes when read by barcode scanning hardware or software. These alphanumeric codes are in turn looked up in databases either locally or online, thus linking a physical label to more detailed pieces of information.
Many methods of scanning barcodes are available, the most common being laser-based. These methods are highly accurate, but require specialized hardware designed exclusively for reading barcodes. One newer barcode scanning method is somewhat different, taking a highly-detailed photograph of the lines and sending the image to the scanning software for recognition. While this method relies upon specialized hardware as well, there are fortunately a number of devices in circulation today that are equipped with the necessary capabilities. The highly detailed cameras in mobile phones can snap accurate pictures of codes and then either decode them on the device themselves, or sending them to third parties via the internet. As such, mobile barcode scanners are seeing a rise in popularity, and are finding uses that many may not have imagined.
The prime usefulness of mobile barcode scanners springs from the fact that they don't require you to carry a separate device. If users must carry another gadget around specifically for the purpose of scanning barcodes, the likelihood that such technology would see widespread mobile use is dramatically less. By including barcode scanning in devices already in use, however, its potential can be unlocked to much greater effect.
As an example, Google's new and revolutionary Android mobile phone platform recently gained barcode scanning technologies. Backed with Google's powerful map and product databases, this completely revolutionizes the way consumers shop. Instead of wandering between stores, checking and comparing prices, then returning home to research product availability online, simply snap an image of a product's barcode directly from the store. Not only can you comparison shop right from your phone, but you can also see product reviews and other crucial data. Not only does this make the process of making a good product choice much easier, but it can empower you as a consumer to know more than does the salesperson.
There are other less exciting but still useful applications of this technology. Collectors can index individual items, tracking relevant details and attaching the information directly to the item itself. Small businesses selling physical products can also use mobile barcode scanners as an inexpensive, convenient alternative to dedicated devices, requiring only that employees install an app onto their mobile phones .
The possibilities for uses of this technology are quite broad. Any area where information must be attached to physical products can benefit from being used with mobile barcode scanners, and the ubiquity of such codes in consumer products makes the process so much easier.
