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Barcode scanners (readers)

A barcode is a series of dark and light parallel lines of varying thickness. The
numbers 0 to 9 are each represented by a unique series of lines.

What happens when a barcode is scanned?

» the barcode is first of all read by a red laser or red LED

» light is reflected back off the barcode; the dark areas reflect little or no light,
which allows the bars to be read
» the reflected light is read by sensors
» as the laser or LED light is scanned across the barcode, a pattern is generated,
which is converted into digital data – this allows the computer to understand
the barcode
» for example: the digit ‘3’ on the left generates the pattern:
(where L = light and D = dark),
this has the binary equivalent of:

LDDDDLD

0111101
Barcodes are most commonly found at the checkout in supermarkets. There are

several other input and output devices at the checkout:

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The barcode has been read, then what happens?
» the barcode number is looked up in the stock database ; this key field uniquely identifies

each stock item

» when the barcode number is found, the stock item record is looked up
» the price and other stock item details are sent back to the checkout

» the number of stock items in the record is reduced by 1 each time the barcode

is read

» this new value for number of stock is written back to the stock item record
» the number of stock items is compared to the re-order level; if it is less than

or equal to this value, more stock items are automatically ordered

» once an order for more stock items is generated, a flag is added to the record

to stop re-ordering every time the stock item barcode is read

» when new stock items arrive, the stock levels are updated in the database.

Advantages to the management of using barcodes

» much easier and faster to change prices on stock items

» much better, more up-to-date sales information/sales trends

» no need to price every stock item on the shelves

» allows for automatic stock control

» possible to check customer buying habits more easily by linking barcodes to,

for example, customer loyalty cards.

Advantages to the customers of using barcodes

» faster checkout queues (staff don’t need to remember/look up prices of items)

» errors in charging customers is reduced

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» the customer is given an itemised bill

» cost savings can be passed on to the customer

» better track of ‘sell by dates’ so food should be fresher.

Quick response (QR) codes

Another type of barcode is the quick response (QR) code. This is made up of a

matrix of filled-in dark squares on a light background.

QR codes can hold considerably more information than the more conventional

barcodes described earlier.

Description of QR codes
» A QR code consists of a block of small squares (light and dark) known as pixels.

It can presently hold up to 4296 characters (or up to 7089 digits) and also

allows internet addresses to be encoded within the QR code. This compares to

the 30 digits that is the maximum for a barcode. However, as more and more

data is added, the structure of the QR code becomes more complex.

» The three large squares at the corners of the code function as a form of

alignment; the remaining small corner square is used to ensure the correct size

and correct angle of the camera shot when the QR code is read.

Uses of QR codes:
» advertising products

» giving automatic access to a website or contact telephone number

» storing boarding passes electronically at airports and train stations

Uses of QR codes:
» point the phone or tablet camera at the QR code

» the app will now process the image taken by the camera, converting the

squares into readable data

» the browser software on the mobile phone or tablet automatically reads the

data generated by the app; it will also decode any web addresses contained
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 within the QR code

» the user will then be sent to a website automatically (or if a telephone

number was embedded in the code)

» if the QR code contained a boarding pass, this will be automatically sent to

the phone/tablet.

Advantages of QR codes compared to traditional barcodes

» They can hold much more information

» There will be fewer errors; the higher capacity of the QR code allows the use

of built-in error-checking systems – normal barcodes contain almost no data

redundancy (data which is duplicated) therefore it isn’t possible to guard

against badly printed or damaged barcodes

» QR codes are easier to read; they don’t need expensive laser or LED scanners like barcodes – they can be

read by the cameras on smartphones or tablets

» It is easy to transmit QR codes either as text messages or images

» It is also possible to encrypt QR codes which gives them greater protection

than traditional barcodes.

Disadvantages of QR codes compared to traditional barcodes

» More than one QR format is available

» QR codes can be used to transmit malicious codes – known as attagging. Since

there are a large number of free apps available to a user for generating QR

codes, that means anyone can do this. It is relatively easy to write malicious

code and embed this within the QR code. When the code is scanned, it is
possible the creator of the malicious code could gain access to everything on

the user’s phone (for example, photographs, address book, stored passwords,

and so on). The user could also be sent to a fake website or it is even possible

for a virus to be downloaded.

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Digital cameras
Digital cameras have essentially replaced the more traditional camera

that used film to capture the images.

These cameras are controlled by an embedded system which can automatically

carry out the following tasks:

» adjust the shutter speed

» focus the image automatically

» operate the flash gun automatically

» adjust the aperture size

» adjust the size of the image

» remove ‘red eye’ when the flash gun has been used

» and so on.

How to capture a photo by mobile phone ?

Mobile phones have caught up with digital cameras as regards number of pixels

But the drawback is often inferior lens quality and limited memory for the storage

of photos. But this is fast changing and, at the time of writing, many smartphones

now have very sophisticated optics and photography software as standard.

Keyboards:
Keyboards are by far the most common method used for data entry. They are

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used as the input devices on computers, tablets, mobile phones and many other

electronic items.

Microphones:
Microphones are either built into the computer or are external devices connected through the USB port or using
Bluetooth connectivity. A microphone can convert sound waves into an electric current. The current produced is
converted to a digital format so that a computer can process it or store it.

Optical mouse:
An optical mouse is an example of a pointing device. It uses tiny cameras to take 1500 images per second.
Unlike an older mechanical mouse, the optical mouse can work on virtually any surface.
Benefits of an optical mouse over a mechanical mouse

» There are no moving parts, therefore it is more reliable.

» Dirt can’t get trapped in any of the mechanical components.

» There is no need to have any special surfaces.

Most optical mice use Bluetooth connectivity rather than using a USB wired connection. While this makes the
mouse more versatile.

A wired mouse has the following advantages:

» no signal loss since there is a constant signal pathway (wire)

» cheaper to operate (no need to buy new batteries or charge batteries)

» fewer environmental issues (no need to dispose of old batteries).

2D and 3D scanners:
Scanners are either two dimensional (2D) or three dimensional (3D).

2D scanners

These types of scanner are the most common form and are generally used to input hard copy (paper)
documents. The image is converted into an electronic form that can be stored in a computer.

Computers equipped with optical character recognition (OCR) software allow the scanned text from the
document to be converted into a text file format.

This means the scanned image can now be edited and manipulated by importing it into a word processor.

If the original document was a photograph or image, then the scanned image forms an image file such as JPEG.

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3D scanners
3D scanners scan solid objects and produce a three-dimensional image. Since solid objects have x, y and z
coordinates, these scanners take images at several points along these three coordinates. A digital image which
represents the solid object is formed.
Application of 2D scanners at an airport:

2D scanners make use of OCR technology to produce digital images which represent the passport pages.

Because of the OCR technology, these digital images can be manipulated in a number of ways.

At many airports the two-dimensional photograph in the passport is scanned and The two digital images are
compared using face recognition/detection software.
Key parts of the face are compared.stored as a JPEG image.

The face in Figure 3.30 shows several of the positions used by the face recognition software. Each position is
checked when the software tries to compare two facial images. Data, such as:

» distance between the eyes

» width of the nose

» shape of the cheek bones

» length of the jaw line

» shape of the eyebrows,

are all used to uniquely identify a given face.

When the image from the passport and the image taken by the camera are

compared, these key positions on the face determine whether or not the two images represent the same face.
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