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:
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/
Sherlock Talking Label Identifier
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 here to purchase these items through our Quick Order Entry page:
http://shop.aph.org/quickentry.asp
If you need assistance, click this link to read the Fred's Head Companion post "Purchasing Products From The APH Website Is Easy".
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
06-28-2007, 01:26 PM
Linear Mode
Similar Threads