| In order for them to be useful, barcode scanners often | | | | somewhere in the middle of a computing session, you |
| have to be connected to computers. We will recall that | | | | don't have the option of just unplugging it and then |
| in virtually all cases, the data which gives meaning to | | | | plugging it in again to see whether it will work. Instead, |
| the barcodes they read is stored in databases, which | | | | you have to restart the whole machine again, and this |
| are in turn hosted on computers. What the barcode | | | | can be very disruptive, for instance in the midst of a |
| scanners are meant to do, then, is to transmit the data | | | | shopping checkout for a hurried customer. In this |
| they scan to the computer, with the computer | | | | system, a scanner would also need specialized |
| checking that data against the database in order to | | | | software to connect to various computers, meaning |
| assign meaning to it. In most cases, then, scanners | | | | that there was no universality in scanner usage. |
| without computers will tend to be quite useless. For a | | | | 2. Keyboard wedge connection: this is a connection |
| scanner to be useful, it has to be connected to the | | | | method where the barcode scanners are put in |
| computer. And what we are interested in, for this | | | | somewhere between the keyboard and the computer |
| discussion, is gaining an understanding of the ways | | | | as a 'wedge.' It is something of an improvement on the |
| through which barcode scanners connect to | | | | serial port connection. |
| computers (at the simple, physical, external level). | | | | 3. USB connection: this is what is to be found on most |
| As it turns out, there are four main ways through | | | | scanners, today. It is where you connect the scanner |
| which barcode scanners connect to the computers | | | | to the computer using any USB port. A scanner made |
| which host the databases upon which they depend: | | | | in this way can, therefore, be used with pretty much |
| 1. Serial port connection: this is where the scanner | | | | any computer. Should it stall midcourse, you have the |
| comes with a pin which you simply hook onto the serial | | | | opportunity to just unplug it, and plug it again, to see if |
| port of your computer (like where you would hook an | | | | that solves the problem (which it often does). It is also |
| extra mouse), and thence connect the barcode | | | | convenient, because in this approach, connecting the |
| scanner to computer. It was, arguably, the first method | | | | scanner to the computer becomes as easy as |
| for connecting barcode scanners to computers to be | | | | connecting a USB flash disk to the machine. |
| developed. Its disadvantage is that it is not a plug and | | | | 4. Wireless connection: this is the emerging technology |
| play approach. You have to go through quite a lengthy | | | | in ultra-modern scanners, where using systems such |
| installation process for the barcode scanner, when you | | | | as Bluetooth, they are able to connect to the |
| go this way. Furthermore, should the scanner 'hang' | | | | associated databases wirelessly. |