Barcoding News
Data tracking news, product updates, tips, and more
What is OPOS?
A very common industry standard, OPOS enables programmers to write code once, but support any flavor of POS equipment (Star, Epson, Bixolon receipt printers, etc). Without it, developers would need to learn the specific command language for every single device manufacturer they wish to implement in their software, making integration a very long and painful process when one wants to support many products. For software vendors who want to be completely hardware independent, OPOS is one convenient way to go. Though each have separate purposes, the OPOS, JavaPOS, and POS for .NET standards fall under one collective name called UPOS (Unified Point of Sale), all of which is maintained by the NRF ARTS committee. Furthermore, OPOS isn’t just for receipt printer implementation; it supports 36 POS devices in total, including cash drawers, pole displays, pinpads, and etc.
Battery Life Tips for Mobile Computers
Get top performance from your Datalogic mobile computers by following these best practices for handling, charging, care and maintenance of installed battery bases.
Today’s mobile computers come with a full range of modern features which demand the best possible battery power to capitalize on. Whether you are using your mobile device for network communications, cell phone calls, internet access, barcode scanning, credit card transactions, GPS navigation, or color imaging, a dead battery will impact your productivity and ultimately affect total cost of ownership.
Datalogic has spent years studying the science of optimum mobile device performance, and we have compiled this documentation to help end users and administrators to employ proven battery management techniques to increase your operational success with our devices.
LXE THOR MN010 Vehicle Mount Computer
The LXE Thor redefines the expectations of what a vehicle mounted computer can accomplish with a processing platform that is dramatically faster. Three patent-pending breakthrough features that enhance productivity and efficiency in ways never before imagined:
- Field-replaceable front panel that gets you back on line if the touch-screen, keyboard or defroster fail
- Quick Mount Smart Dock allows one-handed move of units between vehicles to save cost and reduce down-time
- Ignition control makes the computer ready for work when you are
The Thor is designed for enterprises using forklifts, cranes, trucks and heavy machinery in warehousing, ports, manufacturing floor, natural resource, and trucking/transportation applications.
The Thor will begin shipping in April 2011.
Key Thor Benefits
State of the art processing platform
- Thor’s processing platform is dramatically superior to all other CE vehicle-mount computers in processing speed, RAM and flash.
- 802.11 a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 comes standard, and by adding WWAN w/GPS (available in Q3), the advantage of Thor over other vehicle-mount computers becomes overwhelming.
- Cold Storage configuration, indoor & outdoor displays, and true space diversity antennas for WiFi, contribute to a device ready for virtually any industrial environment.
Persistent Topology of Data and Barcodes
Can barcodes represent the algebraic characterization, persistent homology?
University of Pennsylvania Professor Robert Ghrist thinks they might. He has posted a PDF pre-print of a paper titled Barcodes: The Persistent Topology of Data.
This article surveys recent work of Carlsson and collaborators on applications of computational algebraic topology to problems of feature detection and shape recognition in high-dimensional data. The primary mathematical tool considered is a homology theory for point-cloud data sets — persistent homology — and a novel representation of this algebraic characterization
— barcodes. We sketch an application of these techniques to the classification of natural images.
5 internet points to anyone who understands the paper.
Motorola MC9190-G vs. MC9090-G Mobile Computer Feature Comparison
The Motorola MC9190-G mobile computer builds on the successful MC9090-G, offering more processing power to support today’s applications, more scanning options, better scanning performance, government grade security, a higher resolution display and a more rugged touchscreen and scanner exit window. The following chart highlights all the technology advances in this next generation in the MC9000 Series.
| Feature | Motorola MC9090-G | Motorola MC9190-G | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel XScale PXA270 @624 MHz | Marvell PXA320 @ 806 MHz | Faster processing improves application performance and user productivity, translating into minutes or even hours saved each week. |
| Memory (RAM/ROM) |
|
256MB RAM/1 GB Flash | Major increase in memory improves application processing speed — with ample processing space, there is no need to swap programs in and out of memory during a transaction. |
| Operating System |
|
|
The latest in mobile operating systems allows your business to take advantage of the latest feature set, including increased flexibility, interoperability and security. |
| SD Expansion Slot | SD/MMC card up to 1GB | SD/MMC card up to 32GB | Larger expansion slot capacity provides ample storage for the largest applications. |
| Interactive Sensor Technology (IST) | No | Yes | Enables leading edge motion-based applications, including dynamic screen orientation, power management and free-fall event logging as well as access to accelerometer data for custom applications. |
| Scanning Options |
|
|
Provides more data capture options, including long-range capture of 1D and 2D barcodes. In addition, the four imager options all offer Motorola’s revolutionary imaging technology, which delivers stunning laser-like stunningperformance on both 1D and 2D barcodes. The degradation of 1D barcode scanning performance typical in today’s 2D imagers is eliminated, expanding data capture capabilities to include 2D barcodes as well as documents, imagesand signatures — without impacting user productivity or scanning accuracy. |
| FIPS 140-2 Certification | No | Yes | Certified for use in government applications. |
| Display | 3.7 in. QVGA mono or color for Windows CE
3.7 in. QVGA color only for Windows Mobile |
3.7 in. VGA color for all operating systems | Best-in-class 3.7 inch high-resolution backlit color VGA touchscreen display provides great readability in any lighting condition — from bright sunlight to total darkness. |
| Gorilla® Glass scanner exit Window | No | Yes | Increases the durability of the scanner exit window with glass that is virtually impervious to damage — including scratches. |
| Hardened touchscreen | Yes | Yes — with increased hardness | The increased hardness further improves resistance to wear and tear. |
| Integrated UHF RFID tag | No | Yes | Businesses that have deployed RFID can automatically track the movement and location of MC9190-G devices. Automated real-time inventory enables cost-effective compliance with accounting regulations such as FASB. And the ability to quickly and easily locate misplaced devices ensures that your devices are always available for workers on the next shift. Device utilization and worker productivity are increased, improving the return on investment. |
| Motorola Mobility Platform Architecture (MPA) | MPA 1.0 | MPA 2.0 | The latest Motorola MPA platform provides the latest best-in-class technology architecture, providing an extended lifecycle and future-proofing. In addition, the standardized platform preserves existing application investments by enabling easy and cost-effective porting of applications from other Motorola mobile computers. |
| Bluetooth Version | 1.2 | 2.1 with EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) | The latest Bluetooth technology provides a faster wireless connection to more device types (up to 3 Mbps) over a more secure connection. |
| Bluetooth Stacks | StoneStreet | StoneStreet or Microsoft | Select the stack that best meets mobility needs. |
| Swappable Operating Systems | No | Yes | The ability to send the MC9190-G to a Motorola Service Center to switch between CE and Windows Mobile operating systems eliminates the need to purchase new mobile computers to accommodate a future OS migration. |
Rugged Laptop and Barcode Scanner Address 5 Rights of Medication Safety Requirement
Executive Summary
University Community Health was in search of a 2D barcode scanner that could interact with its Panasonic Toughbook T8 to increase point-of-care safety and ensure the Five Rights initiative – right patient, right drug, right time, right dose, and right form. The solution replaces a pen and paper process with the introduction of a software driver, customized by Barcodes Inc, which allows the Honeywell 2D barcode scanners to communicate with the Panasonic Toughbooks.
Challenge
Driven by hospital specific directives to ensure the right hospital staff was prescribing the right medication to the right patients, hospitals are beginning to invest in barcode-based systems to ensure patient charting is performed electronically.
For patients being administered several forms of medication, healthcare providers routinely deployed a pen and paper patient charting solution that resulted in manual errors ranging from incorrect prescriptions provided to patients to unqualified hospital personnel administering medication. Due to a limited write space available on patient charts, the net result was an ineffective pen and paper process that was incapable of generating specific history of what hospital professional administered what dose at what time, thus reducing patient safety.
University Community Health Hospital decided to invest in an electronic solution to replace patient charts, including the capability to reduce manual errors and increase its space capability by providing nurses with Panasonic Toughbooks. However, the nurses soon realized that the solution, although safer for patients, was very tedious and demanded more time with each patient. Hospital employees were still required to include as much, if not more, patient information, as well as detailing all medication administered at precise times to each patient.
University Community Health was in search of a quicker, more effective solution that would not compromise its patients’ safety.
Solution
In response to the hospital’s need for a more effective solution, Barcodes Inc customized a software driver that would allow the Panasonic T8 Toughbooks to interface with the Honeywell 4600g HD and 4820HDHM barcode scanners. This solution allowed nurses the ability to scan all medication and patient information, while eliminated the requirement to manually input all the information into the Toughbooks. The solution is designed to allow nurses to scan a medication and patient wristband to ensure that the right prescription is going to the right patient. Additionally, after the patient consumes the right medication, the nurse validates that it has been administered by once again scanning the patient’s wristband.
Datalogic Gryphon 4000-HC (Healthcare) Barcode Readers Protect You and Your Patients
Datalogic is pleased to announce the Gryphon 4000 series of bar code readers has been expanded with the introduction of the Gryphonâ„¢ 4000-HC (Healthcare) models. The Gryphonâ„¢ HC series offers both corded and cordless linear imagers, targeting the healthcare industry and other bacteria-sensitive environments with special ‘disinfectant-ready’ barcodes scanner enclosures and patient features.
As global healthcare initiatives continue to push organizations towards automatic data capture, the Gryphon HC bar code readers include disinfectant-ready enclosures featuring silver ion-based antimicrobial additives. Coupled with industry leading sealing ratings, these special enclosures withstand daily cleaning with harsh disinfectant solutions, which helps reduce the spread of germs. The strength of these enclosures expands the life of the product, improves scanning performance and most importantly, secures a patient’s right to obtain quick and accurate data regarding medical treatments.
LXE Announces Tecton Rugged Handheld Mobile Computer
LXE announced today the launch of the Tecton™ rugged handheld computer, targeting supply chain applications. The successor to LXE’s highly successful MX7 handheld, the IP-65 rated Tecton handheld computer accelerates real-time data capture with an industry-leading PXA 320 806 MHz processor running Windows® Mobile 6.5 or Windows® CE 6.0.
Lightweight and extremely well-balanced in the user’s hand, and with sleek design for an industrial tool, the Tecton handheld delivers its enhanced performance across a wide array of supply chain tasks. The unit’s multi-range scanning capabilities enable bar code reads from four inches to 40 feet, so operators can perform warehouse moves ranging from receiving to full pallet put-aways with the same version of the computer. Scan-intensive picking can be enabled with the Tecton computer’s available easy-grip removable handle with two-finger trigger, and every Tecton computer comes with LXE’s ToughTalk technology for voice-driven processes. The device also features a scan vibration signal that can be used to verify successful scans in loud warehouses, and multiple built-in data-entry options.
Performance and versatility come with field-proven ruggedness and customizations for the most demanding environments. Keypads protect against airborne and spilled chemical agents, and electrical components are secured to circuit boards to better withstand drops and shocks. An available cold-storage configuration includes programmable touchscreen and scan window defrosters, and a cold-tolerant backup power source that holds a charge longer in environments as low as -30°C.
“The Tecton handheld performs well in so many tasks because it’s light enough for scan-intensive picking, yet able to take a beating,†said Newell. “We purpose-built this computer for the supply chain with the right combination of ergonomics, ruggedness, and computing power.â€
Datalogic Introduces the Datalogic Gryphon I GBT4400 2D Reader
Today, people from all walks of life are using bar code readers in many different applications. As this technology continues to move into the mainstream, people are looking for more than just performance. Datalogic is proud to meet this challenge with the new Gryphon I GBT4400 reader. Designed with people in mind, this reader delivers the performance that users expect, while blending advanced 2D imaging technology with intuitive, user friendly features.
Fast reading allows the Gryphon GBT4400 reader to excel in diverse application requirements. From signature capture to document scanning, this reader offers the performance users demand to efficiently read common codes including 1D, 2D, postal, stacked and composite codes like PDF417 and GS1 DataBarâ„¢ and even small, condensed codes. Imaging technology also enables the Gryphon GBT4400 reader to easily capture bar codes from LCD monitors or mobile devices for the latest mobile marketing / ticketing applications.
High speed imaging and motion tolerance capabilities allow operators of the Gryphon GBT4400 reader to scan fast moving codes or move quickly from one code to the next. As a cordless device, mobility is supported by a Bluetooth® wireless technology, designed with a working range of 30 m / 90 ft. This allows the data to be quickly transmitted to the host as well as any other commercial or embedded Bluetooth® wireless technology v2.0 compliant device for optimal communication.
Psion-Teklogix now “Psion”
Teklogix is removed from the company name. New identity better reflects the company strategy.
Psion has shortened its operating company name, removing the name “Teklogix†to create a more effective global brand. Psion’s corporate identity has also been refreshed to work better in the digital world. These developments mark the next significant stage in the company’s transformation and accurately reflect the group’s business strategy.
“Our research showed that we had to remove the word “Teklogix” from our name, to unite the business around one, clear, global identity,†said John Conoley, CEO of Psion. “We found that the complexity of the dual company name was impacting our business by confusing our customers, resellers and other key stakeholders, especially in new markets for Psion. We also took the opportunity to refresh the brand to make it properly mirror our business strategy and to work better in the digital world.â€
