TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter will describe the automated data collection technologies that have received widespread usage in recent years. A thorough review is given for bar codes, two-dimensional bar codes, and wireless data collection technologies. Descriptions of pen-based computing, chip cards, contact memory buttons, automatic speech recognition, and magnetic stripe cards are also given. The work includes a technical description of the technology, typical applications, selection criteria, and in some cases, implementation considerations. Future trends are also discussed, including a discussion of direct mark bar codes for permanent marking, potential applications of radio frequency identification, and total wireless computing and data collection environments.
The search for faster, more effective systems to aid in data collection and transmission is a continuous one, with the directions being set by advances in technology. Automated data collection (ADC) is a term to describe families of technologies that aim to immediately identify physical objects with 100 percent accuracy. In addition, ADC technologies allow data to be passed in real time to any database, software, or computer system, providing the capability for a user to make informed decisions in very short times. For a...
