>New client opportunity! I just rec'd a phone call from a prospective client who wants to be able to READ information from a bar code (generated by the government) - the bar code includes information about people (name, other identification, etc.).
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>I will get more detail at our first meeting, in a few days, but I wanted to get some input to see what is feasible.
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>Once we have the person's information in the system, other data will be entered from the keyboard, and it sounds like from there on, it's all somthing I'm familiar with.
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>Is there anyone w/experience in this area, and what do you recommend as far as hardware/software for the bar code reader. I think it's a small operation...probably a single computer/reader.
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>Thanks for any input...J

Your choices basically boil down to scanner type, and interface.

Scanner types are pen, laser, and CCD. Pen is the cheapest, but requires that you brush it in a controlled fashion across the bar code to read it. Laser works like supermarket units we're all familiar with. CCD is in some ways the best, but the most expensive - it essentially analyzes a snapshot of the entire code.

Interface boils down to keyboard wedge, or serial COM port interface. As others have explained, the keyboard wedge works by inserting itself into the keyboard cable between the keyboard and the PC. If your app's focus is on a text box, and you scan a code, the keyboard wedge interface inputs the decoded value directly into the text box as if you had typed it yourself on the keyboard. For most stationary applications this is the best solution.

Some bar code scanning applications require roaming e.g. scanning boxes in a warehouse. In that situation a portable data logger and serial interface is a better choice.

One excellent company is Worthington Data Solutions at www.barcodehq.com.