LGR - Barcode Basics from 1994
Added 2025-08-03 16:38:42 +0000 UTCBARCODES! No one gives 'em a second thought, despite them once being exciting cutting edge tech. And that makes them interesting! To me at least.
Especially since there was a whole cottage industry around barcode scanners and interfaces for PCs back in the day. When reading through old computer magazines I always pause when I come across entire sections dedicated to advertising nothing but UPC readers and software. So I finally decided to grab one of those barcode kits myself and try it out!
And yep, that's what this is. BARCODES. Started off as a Blerb and ended up as a bit more so here we are.
Next video is most likely about a classic (to me) stereo system, so I hope y'all are down for something a tad different along those lines. And $5+ supporters can expect the July LGR Wrap Up episode this coming week as well. Thank you for your ongoing support!
Comments
Your delight and joy was so much fun. One of my past employers bought into the Microsoft Retail Management System, a package that included barcode label printer, scanner (phaser type), till drawer, pole display, primitive touch-screen etc. At the training I think I was the only one who absorbed it all and so when it came to adding/updating information and configuring the display, I'd found my niche! Giood memories, and yes, the barcode-to-keyboard conversion is such a great idea, it's no wonder that it's still relevant today. Is there an up-to-date version of that which does QR codes?
Shiela Dixon
2025-08-05 13:12:10 +0000 UTCMy pleasure, I live for that stuff!
LGR
2025-08-04 17:47:31 +0000 UTCAlways appreciate when you mention you share the obscure software you find to archive.org !
Niels Poldervaart
2025-08-04 15:26:05 +0000 UTCI really thought the many "repeat keystroke" barcodes would do it! Not sure if they're too briefly entered or what.
LGR
2025-08-04 15:16:48 +0000 UTCHa, yeah for some reason it's equating 7% with $7
LGR
2025-08-04 15:16:17 +0000 UTCI am officially jealous. I always wanted a barcode scanner when I was a kid. I dont know why, it just was always so freaking need having the idea of lasers doing things
Honorary Octopus
2025-08-04 15:05:45 +0000 UTCIndeed, I hope to see more of things like this.
Honorary Octopus
2025-08-04 15:04:26 +0000 UTCI'm mostly just fascinated by how bar code scanning (and now QR code scanning) can be as accurate as it is, given that they are always used in non-ideal situations; Scanning at an angle, uneven surfaces, and for wand scanning the user isn't necessarily going to hold the exact same speed during the entire motion. I think the big reason IBM's approach won out as well amongst the competitors is because it was the simplest of them all for a task that really did not need extreme complexity. :B
Kris Asick
2025-08-04 12:11:36 +0000 UTCStill got my Lego Technics set from the 90's that had a thing you could probram with barcodes. Was also amusing trying to scan product codes and see what the thing did. Barcodes are so much more appealing looking that the pixelfarts that are QR codes.
J Ruonti
2025-08-04 06:33:52 +0000 UTCSo fascinating! Like Oddware mixed with Technology Connections. Really liked this one.
Tyler Compton
2025-08-04 06:00:02 +0000 UTCSeeing that pen-shaped scanner brought back fond memories of a Logos Christian bookstore franchise that was in my town when I was a kid; they used scanners of a similar style there.
Headset Guy
2025-08-03 23:35:34 +0000 UTCSomething is horrendously wrong with the tax calculation on that software. $12.99 + 7% = $19.99 ?! I wonder if that's to stop people trying to use the demo version.
moosemaimer
2025-08-03 23:32:43 +0000 UTCThis was awesome. I guess to be a game controller it's gotta be a hold and not just a key input. *shrug* My personal experience with bar codes is, unfortunately, limited to working at a video store where I had to type them in by hand because the scanner was broken.
David Pierce
2025-08-03 23:02:24 +0000 UTCFor some background color, you might be interested in the April 1978 cover of Mad magazine...
John Salt
2025-08-03 22:39:17 +0000 UTCWell, there was a time in the age of type-in programs in magazines when some folks tried to get users to not type in but scan in programs from said magazines. Sadly it never took off. If i ever make a magazine with type-ins then it will definitely use some form of DIY barcode scanner that you can hook up to your C64 and scan in all the programs. :D
BastetFurry
2025-08-03 21:25:52 +0000 UTCYeah I wish it could be programmed to be more friendly to keyboard commands. I mean, maybe it can but I haven’t come across the right barcode scan yet.
LGR
2025-08-03 21:16:42 +0000 UTCOoh yet another Technic set I gotta look into. That’s awesome.
LGR
2025-08-03 21:15:50 +0000 UTCThank you!
LGR
2025-08-03 21:15:28 +0000 UTCGreat video. Loved the Duke bit.
Gav Massingham
2025-08-03 21:08:17 +0000 UTCI am legally obligated to make sure everyone knows there was a Lego Technic set that used barcodes to control and program the models. The 8479 Barcode Multi-Set. The main build was a green dump truck with a claw on the front.
BatteryPoweredBricks
2025-08-03 19:16:52 +0000 UTCThis was cool! I remember learning about barcodes from a very boring book during IT class as school in the early 90s. I also worked with Symbol & Motorola barcode scanners for my job over 10 years ago (working with ATMs) although ironically I was getting the scanners to read QR codes. But they could read anything and the first successful read test I did was with a good old 8-digit UPC, I still remember feeling so pleased when I scanned that first code and confirmed my stuff worked :-) And IDTech are familiar to me, I know that they make NFC readers at least. Pity the gaming didn't work, I was thinking that it would be a cool way to create keyboard macros!
Gareth P
2025-08-03 18:06:03 +0000 UTCA brief mention! That deserves its own video, ha.
LGR
2025-08-03 17:08:12 +0000 UTCHaven't clicked but I hope to see some CueCat chat at least...
Matthew Taylor
2025-08-03 17:06:59 +0000 UTCI haven't seen any signs of that yet. They generally serve two different tasks and coexist quite nicely doing their own things.
LGR
2025-08-03 16:54:33 +0000 UTCUnfortunately bar codes are to be replaced with QR codes in the long term. That's progress i guess.
Jasonfractic
2025-08-03 16:50:22 +0000 UTC
