All,
I have a problem with end users hand-keying information that should be
scanned with a barcode scanner to improve accuracy.
Here's the gist of the issue...
Every piece of inventory has a barcode sticker on it representing a
unique serial #, always 8 characters long.
(My application offers a way to reprint the barcode label in case this
label gets torn, damaged.)
What I need to force, somehow, is that the # represented on the barcode
label MUST be scanned by a simple barcode scan gun connected to the
computer.
As ya'll know, all the scanner does is convert the barcode data into
standard keyboard keystrokes and stuff the data into the keyboard
buffer...really fast. In other words, a very fast, very accurate typist.
But most importantly, the CORRECT # is input (so that the correct
inventory item is recorded as 'processed.')
The problem is that the users hand-key the number at the prompt...and
frequently hand-key it wrong.
So, to try to stop the hand-keying I removed the human-readable text
under the barcode on the label. So now, you either scan it or you learn
to read barcode by eye. One would hope/think that this would have solved
the problem...but no.
Now (by watching security video footage) we find that they are
1. opening Notepad
2. scanning the barcodes, which enters the barcode data in human
readable form, obviously
3. then hand keying the data into my application when they should use
the scanner.
And...errors are being made regularly. And, yes, training, threats, etc.
have been tried.
From the application's viewpoint, the only difference between a barcode
scanner providing input and a human typing on a keyboard is the speed
with which the data is input.
So, my last-ditch idea to force scanning and negate hand-keying is to,
somehow, use a timer on the input. Set the timer to a short time, like 1
second, which is faster than 99% of humankind can type 8 characters.
Start the timer on the first keystroke and when the timer fires again if
the length of the input is less than 8, clear the input...because
they're not scanning.
My question, is this nuts? Is there a better way? Am I barking at the
moon? Begging for problems? Any other Ideas?
Thanks for feedback.
Mike Copeland
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