Five Things You Never Knew You Could Do with A Handheld Scanner
15 September 2006
Hand Held Products, the global leader in image-based linear and 2D data collection solutions, sees a growing number of unusual ways to use handheld devices. Although handheld scanners are naturally useful for traditional data collection, they are also used for a broad variety of other purposes that many in the industry may be unaware of.
This list of unusual applications includes five of the most interesting cases of imaging that Hand Held Products has developed over the years. The list is compiled from a survey of how Hand Held Products' devices are being used in innovative ways but that have not necessarily become mainstream yet.
The Hand Held Products unusual usage top five:
1. Mobile computers measuring the fuel level in gas deliveries (for example at Italian fuel company Liquigas). The device is connected to an electronic head that measures the level of gas left in the truck.
2. Handheld devices with imaging technology used to take photographs of payable cheques by a cleaning company to send them electronically to a bank.
3. Devices taking orders, processing credit card transactions and printing receipts in restaurants, airplanes and at outdoor events.
4. Mobile devices using Bluetooth to see which products will be out of stock to replenish vending machines.
5. Handheld devices taking down mileage and fuel level for car rental companies after being returned from customers. The devices also store data after visual inspection, take photographs of possible damage and print receipts.
However, the common applications of using a handheld device for scanning barcodes in all environments still exist, but sometimes in unusual settings. For instance, a castle in Denmark uses the device for its ticket collection, while in Germany imaging technology is used to track and register blood samples, and several companies have discovered that 2D barcodes, which can store up to 2000 characters, can be implemented instead of costly RFID systems in many applications.
"Most people are aware of what types of applications our devices are typically used for. However, they are often surprised by the versatility of our products and all the possibilities our Adaptus Imaging Technology has to offer. For Hand Held Products, informing people about the versatility of data collection devices is very important because there are still many industries that do not use a handheld device to its full potential," said Roel Vreeburg, Hand Held Products' senior vice president international sales, marketing and services for Europe and Asia.
