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• Pedal powered tank
• BASE jumping with accelerometers
• Self-disinfecting toilet brush

There is no way that a barcode reader can scan the code off an lcd screen -- at least not the typical BCR you're likely to find at your average shop.

Posted by: jakeofalltrades.wordpress.com on May 15, 2008 at 9:46 AM

I agree. I've tried this with many different devices in the past, and it just doesn't work. It probably would with ePaper or something, but I believe the iPhone uses a rather unremarkable LCD, doesn't it?

Posted by: Phillip Torrone on May 15, 2008 at 9:49 AM

the maker says it works...

"To test it out I went to the local hardware store and asked the girl behind the counter if she could scan the barcode from my phone. The first look I got was pure amazement. To her the physical card was transformed into a picture on a shiny device. On top of that the barcode was scanned successfully. The result; a slightly confused girl and a happy me."

if someone wants to disprove it, please do so.

That's just one type of barcode reader, though. Some read a hell of a lot better than others. Through work I've used four different kinds, and each of them were different. And as some of them get older, they don't scan as well. In order to successfully "prove" that it works to me, the maker would have to go to more than just a handful of locations, let alone only one.
It's a great idea, though. I'd love to think that would work everywhere.

I like the idea of this, but I just use http://www.justoneclubcard.com/ to make a single card with the majority of my member cards. Works great and none of the many stores I've used it in have had a problem with it.

Batteries don't die on paper either ;)

I'd like to try this with my Sony PRS-500 which uses an eInk display. I'd bet it works fine, although it's a lot less handy than just dragging around those little barcode key chains.

Posted by: jakeofalltrades.wordpress.com on May 15, 2008 at 2:58 PM

I surely did not mean to criticize your reporting, Mr. Torrone, but merely to express my suspicion of the maker's claims. LCDs work on refraction, whereas scanners use reflection. The maker also mentions something about the cashier/etc entering the numbers manually. Obviously that would work, but at the expense of irritating pretty much everyone involved...

Also, mechanics aside, the purpose of many cards (those more on the ID part of the spectrum) exist not only to contain a number, but to show some semblance of credible ownership. The library where I work has strict rules against using photocopies of the cards--I can't imagine they'd look any more favorably upon a copy that doesn't even physically exist!

@jakeofalltrades: where did you read that the girl enters the code manually?

I don't remember writing it.

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