Bar code scanning

[Ethan Dicks]

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:53:20 +0100, Nico de Jong <nico at farumdata.dk> wrote:
> I've been working with barcodes and scanners (amongst other things) since
> 1984. Everything RS232 based.

I've seen plenty of 'keyboard wedge' barcode scanner stuff, too, not
just the CueCat (Radio Shack/Forbes toy from a couple of years ago)...
the first one I saw was used in a lab with a mass spec at least 10
years ago (on topic!), and was used with a 8.5"x11" plastic card with
various bar codes stuck to it as a way to quickly enter what tests a
water/urine sample was to undergo while minimizing keyboard input
error.  The device sends PC/AT keyboard scan codes down the cable as
if the human typed the digits.  The software need never know the
origin of the input.  I.e. - no driver required.

I see CueCats at Hamfests, thrifts, etc., for a few bucks.  I have a
couple myself I got from Rat Shack when they were free with catalog
(yes, I 'neutered' mine to not send the identifying serial number back
to the host).

-ethan