A History Of The Barcode And Barcode Scanners

Have you ever wondered how long barcode scanners have been in use for in major retail shops? For many people, this is the only means of security and accurately storing information about the product. Those many of the younger generation will not know that this system has only been around the seventies, even though the barcode did not pick up properly until the eighties.

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Google Finds Advertisers for Print Barcode Test

Google is moving ahead with its print ad program involving barcode technology with a couple of advertisers acting as test cases.

Google’s enables advertisers to place small square barcodes beside print ads. Readers who see the ad can snap a picture of the barcode with their mobile devices and view promotions on their handhelds, reports ClickZ (via MarketingVox).

Companies testing the system can also incorporate different direct response triggers to the model; in some cases, that could be an 800 number, or even a special set of Google search terms that bring up sponsored links.

eHealth, a health insurance comparison site, has been testing the system and using site visits as its metric for success. Cruise.com is also looking at site visits to gauge the viability of the model and includes an 800 number with its ads as well.

Jewelry retailer Blue Nile used specialized search terms to accompany their print ads. Searching for “Blue Nile 100″ on Google brings the official site up as a sponsored link, whereas a search for the company name returns a hodgepodge of unrelated links.

Google admits the technology driving its program is still a year and a half away from being mainstream. But systems like this are already in use in Europe and have found some success.

Tax returns even faster this year

Missourians can not only expect speedy tax returns again this year, but they can expect them to come even sooner than last year. David Griffith, with the Department of Revenue, says the paperwork is getting done even more efficiently this year.

"The Missouri Department of Revenue really sets the standard in turn around time," says Griffith, "Right now we're averaging 2.84 days from the time we receive your return until your refund is mailed out."

The most important recent innovation in tax return filing has been electronic filing, which the Department of Revenue encourages; however, there is a new way Missourians can file their taxes using paper while maintaining efficiency.

"We encourage you to file electronically, absolutely," says Griffith, "There's also, on our website, an opportunity for you to use what's called the 2-D barcode form."

This new type of form includes a barcode that's not all that dissimilar from the barcodes we see in stores everywhere. Typical commercial barcodes are what's called a 1-D barcode, but this 2-D barcode actually contains more information. This allows the Department of Revenue to avoid entering each filer's personal information by hand; instead they just scan, substantially speeding up the process. Griffith says that while the 2-D barcode form is faster than traditional paper filing, electronic filing is still the fastest. If filed electronically, Missourians can expect their returns sooner than ever.

"Unless there's an error on your return, you can expect it in 3 or 4 days after you send it in," says Griffith.

Motorola Introduces 802.11n Wireless LAN Switch Enabling the All-Wireless Enterprise

SAN JOSE, Calif. – 12 March 2008 – The Enterprise Mobility business of Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced its Motorola RFS6000, the latest addition to a family of high-performance multi-core processor-based wireless LAN (WLAN) switches, targeted at mid-sized enterprises. The RFS6000 supports an all-wireless enterprise vision, enabling businesses to build an enterprise WLAN that serves the entire organization from workers in corporate headquarters to manufacturing and distribution plants to remote branch offices.
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Space Saving Printer From Citizen Now With Front-Loading Rewinder

Citizen Systems Europe, the leading manufacturer of dot matrix, label and barcode printers, has launched the new CL-S700R industrial printer that features an internal rewinder, making it extremely simple to print labels in batches or individually. Like the existing CL-S700 models, the printer is extremely easy and fast to load and use, maximising productivity and minimising downtime.

The new printer’s internal rewinder makes printing large volumes of labels extremely easy. The CL S700R can be used for printing labels on demand, automatically peeling the printed labels from the backing paper, saving you time, and neatly rewinding the backing paper back into the printer. Alternatively, batches of printed labels can be taken back into the machine’s casing and rewound onto the spool. When all of the labels have been printed, the roll can then simply be stored until required.

The printer’s innovative yet easy-to-load rewinder only needs access from the front of the printer, eliminating the frustration of feeding the backing paper all the way to the back of the unit, common with other manufacturer’s machines. The internal rewinder spool can accommodate up to a 6" diameter roll of media or backing/liner paper, minimising downtime considerably. Like all of the CL-S700 printers available, the new model is ideal for use where space is restricted, with all of the standard operations, including paper loading, accessible from the front of the printer. The machine’s Hi Open™ metal casing minimises the footprint of the printer, providing easy access and simple media loading while maintaining the compact dimensions of the unit. Furthermore, Hi Lift™ mechanisms make ribbon loading quick and effortless using ARCP™ technology to eliminate ribbon wrinkle.

The CL-S700R is capable of printing up to 10 inches per second, featuring a clear, flat paper path, which increases efficiency and productivity in a diverse range of applications. Due to the printer’s easy to use design, it takes just 10 seconds to change the media, making the time needed to change media and ribbons up to 10 times faster than that of competing printers.The new printer features parallel, serial and USB interfaces as standard, and internal Ethernet and Wireless LAN options can be added in a minute, providing remote control, configuration and monitoring of the printer.

Barcode Printer Learning Center

Get all the information you need dealing with barcode printers

HONEYWELL COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.

Minneapolis, MN, December 20, 2007 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Hand Held Products, Inc., a privately held Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) company, for approximately $390 million.

Hand Held will become a new line of business, called Honeywell Imaging and Mobility, within Honeywell’s Security Group.

“This is a great investment for Honeywell. Hand Held significantly strengthens and broadens Honeywell’s portfolio, particularly in wireless innovation and the high-growth data collection and communication space,” said Ben Cornett, President of Honeywell Security. “Hand Held is poised for growth, with strong positions in key vertical markets that complement ACS’s existing technology and solutions.”

“Becoming part of Honeywell begins a new and exciting chapter for Hand Held,” said Kevin Jost, President, Honeywell Imaging and Mobility business. “By joining one of the world’s leading technology companies, we will be able to deliver greater value and a more comprehensive offering of world-class solutions to our customers.”

Isle Of Man Pockets Motorola’s Covert TETRA Terminals

DOUGLAS, Isle of Man – 5th March 2008 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) has been chosen by the Isle of Man Government Department of Home Affairs to supply a fleet of covert TETRA terminals. Motorola will supply the covert devices in mid 2008, which will be used by the Isle of Man Constabulary and Customs & Excise.

Motorola worked closely with a number of public safety users including the Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs, Isle of Man Constabulary and Isle of Man Customs & Excise during the design process to ensure it delivered a covert TETRA radio that met the special needs of the users. The new TCR1000 TETRA Covert Radio will help improve operational effectiveness as the small ergonomic design means officers do not feel as though they are wearing a radio, helping them to disguise their equipment during covert operations.

“At last we have a covert radio that is fit for purpose,” says Robert Williamson, technical director, Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs. “TETRA is a very appropriate communications technology for policing activity, but until now we have not had a suitable form factor for covert operations. Motorola’s innovative TETRA radio design will be of real benefit in everyday covert activities. Our users are delighted with the new covert set.”

The small, lightweight design of the TCR1000 Covert TETRA terminal incorporates many innovative features to address the unique requirements of covert users such as discrete audio, radio control and battery lifetime. Despite the compact design, the Motorola covert TETRA radio performs to the same high standards as more mainstream Motorola TETRA terminals and offers excellent functionality including options for integrated GPS and end to end encryption.

Manuel Torres, vice president and general manager, Motorola Government & Public Safety, EMEA added: “Our close collaboration with the Isle of Man authorities has been a vital element in producing such a compact, powerful and well-suited covert radio. Those that’ll actually be using the radios have been very enthusiastic about the radio during the extensive and robust evaluation process, and we’re rightly proud of having developed such a well-received product.”

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Google finds new uses for barcodes

Google's efforts to get into the newspaper ad business have yet to yield much. One tool it hopes will eventually change that: Small, square barcodes, like the one at the right, at the bottom of print ads. When a person scans the barcode with a compatible camera phone, it takes their phone's browser to a mobile Web address encrypted in the graphic.

What's the point? This has three benefits: First, it saves the reader the trouble of typing in a Web address into their phone -- an annoying process for the majority of wireless subscribers that don't have phones with QWERTY keypads. Second, it can take the reader to a very specific page, based on an individual ad -- like a coupon or a map to the advertiser's store. And third, it ties into Google's analytics tools, so advertisers can get a very specific sense of which ads work and which don't, when people are viewing them, where they're standing (GPS), etc.

These barcodes are big in Japan -- we were there last December, and saw them everywhere. A Google exec presenting at a NY Advertising Club meetup the search company hosted Monday night said the barcode software's penetration is about 10% right now in the U.S. We're told that's a liberal estimate -- a mobile marketing exec we talked to at the meeting said he'd be surprised if the software is set up on even 1% of phones in the U.S.

Either way, there are big hurdles before the barcodes catch on here. The biggest:
Getting the four biggest mobile carriers, which sell the vast majority of cellphones in the U.S., on board.

First, Google, carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless, and phone manufacturers like Motorola and Samsung need to figure out how to split up the revenue pie. Second, they have to get the software on enough phones to be relevant. And third, they have to convince advertisers that people know what the barcodes are for, so they don't get confused.

Some of Google's (GOOG) problems will be solved as it rolls out Android, its mobile operating system, later this year -- Google can put pretty much whatever software it wants on those phones. But there are 240+ million wireless subscribers right now in the U.S., and none of them runs Android. Google has its work cut out.

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10 Tips for Recession Proofing your Business

System ID provides productivity enhancing technology that helps businesses better manage inventories, assets and data collection by improving accuracy and efficiency.

The Prosen Center is a business partner of System ID and has developed the 2008 Ten Tips for Recession Proofing Businesses. By using these tips, we hope this will help you have a smoother ride through the potential recession period.

1. Always run leaner than the status quo would prefer, especially in good times.
   Warehouse Automation
   
   Time and Attendance
   
   
2. Verify that at least 50% of customers are loyal. Meaning, they will continue to buy from the company and willingly provide their testimonials and referrals.
   


3. Identify the organization's top 3 most critical objectives and have measurement tools in place to ensure they are being met.
   


4. Take a critical look at the corporation's performance management system to make certain rewards are tied to results and not how hard people work.
   


5. Weed out sales people who haven't been meeting their numbers. Ensure all recognition systems rewards margin, drives revenue and encourages accountability.
   


6. Evaluate the accuracy of every sales forecast and make the necessary adjustments to improve the reliability of winning future business.
   Mobile Sales Force
   
   
7. Get receivables in order and ensure appropriate inventory levels.
   Inventory Control
   
   Asset Management
   
   
8. Measure employee productivity and immediately stop working on non-essential initiatives.
   


9. Ensure that your company can operate with a 15% drop in sales, and put a plan in place just in case that should happen.
   


10. Discourage buying into the theory that recession means failure; rather, plan ahead to increase efficiency and win a larger share of the available opportunities.
    Efficiency Tools for Every Business.
    

Symbol Mobile Briefing Center - San Antonio

Step inside Motorola’s Mobile Briefing Center and learn how Enterprise Business Solutions can help you transform your enterprise with mobility strategies that seamlessly and securely link people, assets and information to build a truly mobile workforce.

Click here if you would like to register for the San Antonio event.

Visit the completely redesigned Mobility Solutions Center to experience:
• Interactive demonstration of Motorola hardware and systems including Advanced Data Capture, Mobile Computing, Wireless Infrastructure and Management Software—learn how these systems can improve data capture, inventory turns, warehouse productivity, and reduce human error

• Advanced technologies from Motorola, including RFID and Mobility Services

• Industry solution demonstrations for Transportation, Retail, Warehouse & Distribution, Manufacturing and Healthcare environments• Device management and communications software from Motorola +PLUS Validated software partners

• Plus—Talk one-on-one with a System ID expert about any advanced data management projects you may have