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Barcode and Magnetic Stripe Readers

VSys can use barcode and magnetic stripe readers to speed up the volunteer sign-in process. Like touchscreen displays, both of these devices emulate (pretend to be) a simpler device, in this case a keyboard. What is scanned using these readers is effectively typed into VSys at high speed, there's nothing special to the process.

There are three primary kinds of barcode readers.

Technology

Pros

Cons

Pen readers

These look like a writing device. To read a barcode, swipe the tip of the pen along the barcode.

Very inexpensive

Much slower to use

Requires manual dexterity on volunteer's part

Laser scanners

Just like the readers at the grocery store, these can be mounted anywhere and read barcodes placed within a few inches of the reader

Fast reading

Does not require barcode to be placed up against scanner

More expensive ($250+)

CCD readers

Handheld or mounted, these have wide heads and are placed up against the barcode to read it

Inexpensive ($75+)

Requires being placed up against the barcode to read (or vice-versa)

Magnetic stripe readers

These look much like credit card processing machines, and either plug into your keyboard port (with the keyboard) or into a USB port. (In our internal testing, we've been very pleased with the ID Tech MiniMag Swipe Reader, about US$45.)

RFID card readers

While VSys has no direct support for cards like this, those that emulate a keyboard, like the magnetic stripe and barcode readers do, should work fine.

See Also

Hardware

Touchscreen Displays

Keyboards