Ecopda Barcode

From CENS Urban Sensing

Originally from Eitan Mendelowitz:

Ok - I've tried out all the Barcode readers discussed on this list. Here is the quick summary.

  • BaToo: I think the most promising is "BaToo" from ETHZ.

http://people.inf.ethz.ch/adelmanr/batoo/ (good find Thomas!) Its quick and reliable on larger than normal barcodes (when it doesn't crash). I started out trying to scan barcodes in my kitchen and couldn't get it to work at all. Normal barcodes are too small for the N80 to focus on. I printed out a code at 3 inches x 1 1/2 inches and it worked like a charm. Their sample program generates runtime errors when you try to recognize a higher res picture. It also generates an error if you try to recognize a 2nd barcode. (I assume its a memory thing). But otherwise its right on. Its open source and my guess is will be easy to make stable for a given camera. (I think they used the N90).

  • Shotcode: This is the 2nd runner up. Works most of the time at

least on a 4 inch diameter tag. Relativity fast. I don't think they give out their api and their app funnels everything through their website. We might have to do a little reverse engineering if we want to use it. I think the tags just encode a random ID (which is displayed) and the ID is used as a key on their servers. We might have to intercept their URLs somehow.

  • Semacode - Works about 50% of the time even on a big tag (4 inch x 4 inch square) and SLOW (over 25 secs per scan).

yet. I've emailed them for a login and haven't gotten a response.

All of these programs have this annoying thing where after you try to take a picture you get a question from the phone asking if the program can access the camera. Its a Java security thing but it is very annoying.

I'm looking for other alternatives but haven't found anything too promising yet. There is Qode (http://www.paperclick.com/) but they don't seem to have any apps on thier website. Also there seems to be some postings on the net that Nokia phones in Japan come with a barcode reader. We might want to ask our Nokia contacts about that.


Eitan

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