amiguy@pnet01.cts.com (Sean Wolfe) (01/05/88)
Does anyone have any information on Bar Code Readers already being implemented on the Amy? I'm developing some software that will require the checking in and out of items, and I think that the Bar Code reader would be the quickest and most error free method.. Do they make them for other Computers (of course they do) that are parallel rs232 ? ? Any Comments would be appericiated.. -s: Thank's In Advance, Sean Wolfe Wolfe Baker Systems.
cmcmanis%pepper@Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) (01/06/88)
In article <2276@crash.cts.com> amiguy@pnet01.cts.com (Sean Wolfe) writes: >Does anyone have any information on Bar Code Readers already being implemented >on the Amy? I'm developing some software that will require the checking in >and out of items, and I think that the Bar Code reader would be the quickest >and most error free method.. Do they make them for other Computers (of course >they do) that are parallel rs232 ? ? Any Comments would be appericiated.. Wow, this is a great Idea! Definitely should be an option to the gameport.device (you listening Kodiak??:-)) The other thing it has done is given me an opportunity to go back to some of my '77 and '78 BYTE magazines for a look at the home made barcode readers that were designed and used. These articles include software as well as sample barcodes. I can visulize a device that has a phototransistor and an LED at the tip of it, connected to Port 2 of the Amiga. When you open Port 2 as a lightpen, it leaves the LED off, when you open it as a Barcode reader, it turns the LED on. I think this may pass the "how many Amigas will this sell?" test. Because having a bar code reader would make the Amiga useful for keeping inventory of food and stuff. Grocers and other businesses could use a 500 as a front end to their IBM S/38 scanner systems. --Chuck McManis uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis BIX: cmcmanis ARPAnet: cmcmanis@sun.com These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you.
adam@lamont.Columbia.edu (adam levin) (01/09/88)
Back when my Apple ][ was my favorite computer, I hacked a Casio bar code wand (from one of their little keyboards) to the Apple's joystick port and played around trying to read/edit/print their bar coded music scores. I found that the Casio bar code wand gave a good strong signal; there was circuitry inside the wand to clean up and amplify the pulses. On the other hand, the Texas Instruments wand (from their speaking books [or something] series) needed additional circuitry on the motherboard to be usable. A thought: Would it be possible to make a bar code wand that could be used as a light pen as well? Adam Levin Standard Disclaimer