Bar Code Scanners

Do you have any grocery items that you forgot to label before you put them away? Are you tired of having to label your groceries? What about your Music CDs? In this modern age, almost 90% of commercial products have a bar code on the label-why not use this feature for your own advantage?

A bar code is a identifying mark made up of a series of vertical lines and numbers that retailers place on goods. A bar code scanner is a laser that identifies the unique bar code on a product. The scanner is attached to a computer which compares the scanned bar code with a database and quickly matches the code to a description of the item. Retailers use bar codes and scanners to speed up check-out lines, reduce human error that can result in under-charges and over-charges, and to track inventory.

This technology has been adapted to fit the needs of the visually impaired in the form of hand-held scanners and the databases of product bar codes accessible through personal PCs. This technology allows you to grab a product off the shelf, scan it, and have the identification made available to you through your computer. Not only that, but it is now possible to create a database with unused bar codes, so that you can attach a bar code to an object, scan it and create your own description for that item in the database. You can catalog your computer disks, cassette tapes, even your clothing this way.

Some of the companies distributing scanners for personal computers are:

• Ferguson Enterprises
  104 Anderson Ave.
  Manchester, SD 57353-5702
  Toll free: 866-459-4506
  Fax: 605-546-2212
  Email:fergent@fergus onenterprises.com
  Internet:Ferguson Enterprises: http://www.fergusonenterp rises.com
• Compusult Limited
  40 Bannister St., P.O. Box 1000
  Mount Pearl, NF, A1N 3C9
  Country: Canada
  Phone: 709-745-7914
  Toll Free: 888-388-8180
  Fax: 709-745-7927
  Email: management@compusul t.nf.ca
  Internet: Compusult Limited: http://www.hear-it.com

A fourth company has chosen to exploit this technology in a different fashion is En-Vision America. They have combined scanning with digital voice recording to create i.d.mate-a portable scanner that associates a bar code with a spoken memo. With this product, you scan an item and then record your own description. When you scan it later, the unit replays your voice message. These descriptions are stored on FLASH memory cards, which are removable. This allows for storage space limited only by the number of cards you have. The advantage of portability is offset by the fact that the user must define all entries himself-there is no pre-recorded database of commercial products available. Here is En-Vision America's contact information:

• En-Vision America, Inc.
  1013 Porter Lane
  Normal IL 61761
  Phone: 309-452-3088
  Toll free: 800-890-1180
  Fax: 309-452-3643
  Internet:En-Vision America: http://www.envisionamerica.co m

PC Software Developments, a German company, has developed a similar system for the home computer. Available in DOS and Windows (3.1 or higher) formats, Quickinfo will associate a sound file to any bar code. Like i.d. mate, there is no pre-recorded database; you must start from scratch. Their contact information follows:



• PC Software Developments
  Birkenfelder Str. 12
  75180 Pforzheim
  Germany
  Phone + Fax: 49 7231 46 56 81
  E-Mail:blindsoftware@tichnut .de
  Internet:PC Software Developments: http://www.tichnut.de/quikin fo/

The Sherlock Talking Label Identifier is a hand-held digital voice recorder with each recorded message keyed to an adhesive label or plastic disk tag. Labels or tags can be attached to clothing, medications, packaged products, frozen foods, documents, books, CDs, anything you wish to identify. Includes 25 labels, 10 tags and carrying case.

Sherlock Talking Label Identifier: Catalog Number: 1-07410-00

Extra Adhesive Labels (pack of 25):
Catalog Number: 1-07411-00

Extra Plastic Tags (pack of 10):
Catalog Number: 1-07412-00
Click this link to purchase the Sherlock Talking Label Identifier, now ON SALE!

MagneTachers: Magnetic Labels from APH

MagneTachers are magnetic labels that attach to metal objects, are easily removable, and re-attachable! You can create labels in large print, braille, and for the Sherlock Talking Label Identifier (sold separately).

Uses include:

• Create, use, store, and reuse labels for canned goods
• Read, write, order and re-order sets of words or numbers on a classroom magnet board
• Make labels on metal desks and file drawers that everyone can read

MagneTachers for Making Large Print Labels

• Includes two MagneTacher rolls, each 120 inches long, and instructions in print and braille
• Select from two heights -- half inch or inch, depending on the print size you need
• Write directly on the paper side of the MagneTacher, which provides a smear-resistant surface for a bold line pen or marker
• Cut label from the roll and place on metal surface

MagneTachers for Making Braille Labels

• Includes two MagneTacher rolls, half inch tall and 120 inches long, with instructions in print and braille
• Emboss MagneTachers with braille labelers and slates with half-inch wide alignment guides
• Braille on the non-magnetic side of the label; its white vinyl coating helps braille dots stay firm
• Cut label from the roll and place on metal surface

MagneTachers for Making Small Braillable Labels

• Includes two MagneTachers sheets, each holding 18 MagneTachers and instructions in print and braille
• These MagneTachers are magnetic strips only. You can make them braille labels by adhering APH's Braillable Labels: Small Braillable Labels to them (labels sold separately Small Label Pack, 1-08872-00 and Assorted Label Pack, 1-08871-00)
• Small Braillable Labels hold two lines and fifteen braille cells
• Press a completed label onto the non-magnetic side of the MagneTacher and place on metal surface

MagneTachers for Use with Sherlock Labels

• Includes two MagneTachers sheets, each holding 12 MagneTachers and instructions in print and braille
• MagneTachers for use with Sherlock labels include an additional pack of 25 Sherlock labels
• NOTE: You must have the Sherlock Talking Label Identifier (sold separately), 1-07410-00, to use these MagneTachers
• Use, remove, and re-use Sherlock labels on metal objects as often as you like

For Making Large Print Labels (0.5 inch high, includes two 120 inch rolls):
Catalog Number: 1-07417-00

For Making Larger Print Labels: (1 inch high, two 120 inch rolls):
Catalog Number: 1-07418-00
Click this link to purchase the MagneTachers Magnetic Labels: For Making Large Print Labels.

For Making Braille Labels (0.5 inch high, two 120 inch rolls):
Catalog Number: 1-07416-00

For Making Small Braillable Labels (includes two sheets, 18 labels per sheet):
Catalog Number: 1-07415-00
Click this link to purchase the MagneTachers Magnetic Labels: For Making Braille Labels.

For Making Sherlock Labels (two sheets, 12 labels per sheet):
Catalog Number: 1-07413-00

For Making Sherlock Labels, Includes Sherlock Labels (two magnetic sheets, 12 labels per sheet, plus 25 self-adhesive Sherlock Labels):
Catalog Number: 1-07414-00
Click this link to purchase the MagneTachers Magnetic Labels: For Sherlock Labels.

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085
Toll Free: 800-223-1839
Phone: 502-895-2405
Fax: 502-899-2274
E-mail: info@aph.org
Web site: http://www.aph.org
APH Shopping Home: http://shop.aph.org

SCANACAN

Are you tired of opening the wrong can? Are you embarrassed to find out that you put on a green shirt when you wanted a blue shirt? Are you frustrated when you can't find the disk or CD or movie you were looking for? Those days are over with the SCANACAN Technology at your finger tips. The days of endless waiting for sighted assistance with product identification are now over. With the SCANACAN technology you can have it all.

Since just about everything you purchase has a bar code on it, there is no need for labeling grocery items any more, and no excuse for not cataloging all your items that are already barcoded. With the excellent quality commercial Omni Directional Laser USB bar code scanner, you can easily identify anything with a bar code on it. SCANACAN For Windows allows you to identify groceries, and anything with a bar code just by passing it in front of the lens of the scanner.

If the item you scanned or entered is not in the Grocery database, of 600000 items, or the Hardware Database of 62,000 Hardware related items, or the Schwans Database with many cooking instructions, you can add it to the database of your choice with just a few key strokes. You can create as many databases as your hard drive will hold. Each database holds up to 2 billion records. With the simple one-letter alt commands, you can quickly and easily enter the data needed to make your grocery shopping much easier. You can purchase clothing bar code labels and create a clothing database with the description, including the color, and manufacturer of your clothes.

Here's an overview of the functions of the program:

• Add Record: Lets you add a record with a description, price, quantity on hand, Minimum and Maximum quantities, andinstructions of up to 600 characters, about any given item. This means now you can add the quantity you wish to have on hand, both Minimum and Maximum quantities for reordering your groceries either by bar code, or by typing in a description of the product you wish to order. You may add the instructions of how to prepare your grocery items, after adding them to the existing grocery database.
  
• Backup Database: This command lets you backup the database you are currently working in.
  
• Change Record: Allows you to change any of the data associated with an item, at any time. You can edit these fields easily.
  
• View Inventory: This feature allows you to view the contents of the database by doing an Alt-L for List Inventory, arrowing up and down, and Alt-D for Page Down, and Alt-U for page up. When viewing the list of items, SCANACAN For Windows will read the description of the item, first, and it's bar code.
  
• Delete Record: Now if you decide you want to delete something you will not be needing anymore, you can easily do that. This command deletes the barcode and everything about the item you are deleting. You have the option to change your mind if you choose not to delete an item.
  
• Fast Scan: This feature is really fast now. Just scan one item after another. This feature is great for going through your groceries after having come home from the grocery store, or a stack of disks or a stack of CDs or videos. The description of the item will stay on the screen until you scan another item in the fast scan mode.
  
• Read Instructions: Allows you to read instructions that you have entered into the database of your choice.
  
• Add Quantity: This command allows you to add quantity to your inventory.
  
• Subtract Quantity: This feature allows you to subtract a quantity that you might not want to have in stock or re-order.
  
• Look up Record: This feature is one way of ordering your grocery items. Just tell SCANACAN For Windows how many of a certain item you are going to use, and the quantity you wish to order. SCANACAN For Windows will put the items into an order file so you can print and take to your grocery store. Just as you can subtract from your inventory, you may now add to your inventory.
  
• Open Database: lets you open a new database or an existing one. SCANACAN For Windows tells you which database you are in. Now, when you leave the program, and return to SCANACAN For Windows, the next time, it will put you back in the database you were in last.
  
• Print Menu: This menu has three commands in it. They are:
  • Print re-order: This new command allows you to print your re-order. This is the same as printing out your grocery list which you created with the look up command, Or the Add Quantity command. The information printed on the list, is the bar code, description of the item, and quantity you are ordering.
    
  • Print Database: This command allows you to print the entire database you are working in.
  • Exit: This command lets you exit the print menu, and returns you to the main menu.
• Quit Program: This command takes you out of SCANACAN, For Windows and returns you to the desktop.
  
• Repair Index file: This command will repair the current index file you are working in, should it get corrupted.
  
• About SCANACAN For Windows: This command tells you which version of SCANACAN For Windows you are using, and gives you contact information.
  
• Restore Databases, this command allows you to restore a database that has been previously backed up.

SCANACAN For Windows runs in Windows 98, ME, XP, Windows 2,000, or Windows NT. It is easy to install, and uses standard Windows commands.

Click this link to purchase SCANACAN from Independent Living Aids.