| Barcode scanners have been with us for many | | | | these types of handheld barcode scanners would |
| decades now and have continued to evolve as | | | | be the Motorola LS9208i barcode scanner, the |
| general purpose computing technologies were | | | | Metrologic Mk9540 barcode scanner, or the |
| incorporated into the latest versions of handheld | | | | Honeywell PSC QS6000 Plus barcode scanner. |
| barcode scanners. Many of these | | | | On the other end of the spectrum of handheld |
| improvements to barcode laser scanners and | | | | barcode scanners, there are cordless barcode |
| imagers were incremental in nature; thus providing | | | | scanners, such as the Motorola (Symbol) P470 |
| us with barcode scanners that contained increased | | | | Phaser cordless barcode scanner (which are often |
| functionality at lower prices. This has allowed | | | | seen at Home Depot checkout lines) or the |
| barcode scanners to be used in more and more | | | | Metrologic VoyagerBT MS9535 POS cordless |
| applications in a wide range of industries. Still, | | | | barcode Scanner. The P470 cordless handheld |
| handheld barcode scanners were essentially | | | | scanner uses 2.4Ghz wireless technology (think |
| "dumb" peripheral devices for data capture, much | | | | cordless phone) while the Metrologic VoyagerBT |
| like a keyboard. Now however, with the latest | | | | cordless handheld scanner uses Bluetooth |
| evolution of handheld barcode scanners, they | | | | technology. Historically, the use of cordless |
| have leaped to become a | | | | barcode scanners has been somewhat limited |
| "computer-within-a-scanner." | | | | because of cost but this is becoming less of an |
| Before reviewing some of the recent advances in | | | | issue as the price of these devices drop coupled |
| barcode scanner technologies, let’s first | | | | with the recognition that the most common point |
| review some of the key features of barcode | | | | of failure for a handheld barcode scanner is the |
| scanners. These key features include the | | | | cable. |
| following barcode scanner criteria: 1) data capture | | | | Motorola has taken handheld barcode scanners to |
| technology for the barcode scanner - specifically, | | | | the next level the introduction of the MT2000 |
| laser barcode scanning vs imager barcode | | | | mobile terminal (which is really a very fancy name |
| scanning, 2) symbology support for 1D, 2D and | | | | for a handheld cordless barcode scanner) which |
| other barcode symbologies, 3) barcode scanner | | | | supports a range of standard wireless (cordless) |
| durability meaning retail vs industrial (or rugged | | | | technologies including both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi |
| scanners) grade handheld scanners and 4) | | | | 802.11 technologies. This handheld barcode |
| barcode interface technologies including corded | | | | scanner can not only read 1D and 2D barcodes, |
| and cordless barcode scanner technologies. | | | | but can also provide data capture for DPM and |
| The most basic barcode scanner and possibly the | | | | images. Perhaps most surprisingly, this new |
| most widely used type of barcode laser scanner | | | | handheld barcode scanner supports Windows CE |
| is one that provides laser scanning for 1D | | | | making it a truly computer-in-a-scanner device. |
| barcodes with a medium-duty plastic shell and | | | | You truly now have all the computing functionality |
| cable that interfaces with a PC via either | | | | you would ever need in a handheld scanner, |
| keyboard wedge or USB interface. Examples of | | | | including the ability to key-in and view data. |