I think iPads are great tools to be used in libraries. Are you guys iRoving
or looking into it?


On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 3:11 PM, Ian Walls <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> The original (white) Square reader is unencrypted, and the output can be
> read by an app, but you'll need to a) know how to write an app for the
> platform(s) you wish, and b) figure out how to decode the serial data,
> which
> isn't particularly well documented out there in the world.
>
> If you're using Chrome Canary, you can load up this page:
> http://webaudiodemos.appspot.com/AudioRecorder/index.html and connect a
> Square, and see an oscilloscope output of the data.  Again, you'd have to
> interpret what that serial data means for you, but this is the kind of
> stuff
> that will eventually be possible with HTML5, once it's widely adopted.
>
> Camera access is also forthcoming in HTML5, so there may come a time when
> you can natively do barcode scanning using the rear-facing camera of your
> tablet/smart device.
>
> For now, while things still require mobile apps, the most sustainable
> solution may be to develop the app in Phonegap (http://phonegap.com/) so
> it's already in HTML5 when the technology is finally ready to just do this
> in the browser instead of a compiled app.
>
> Or, Bluetooth.  That works too.
>
> -Ian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Jason Griffey
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:27 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Tablets to help with circulation services
>
> FWIW: All of the card-readers I've tested (Square, Paypal) require their
> particular apps to "read"...there's no generic output that's readable by
> the
> device.
>
> At least on iOS, access to the camera is via an API only accessible by an
> app, which means no generic browser based access to the camera output
> either. If you were to write an iOS app, of course, all bets are off...you
> could do what you wanted with the camera, including barcode reading.
>
> Android is much less locked down than iOS, but I'm not as familiar with it.
>
> If I were doing this, I'd look into using a bluetooth scanner in combo with
> the tablet. In that case, the scanner just presents as if it were a
> keyboard, passing the data off to the tablet just as if it were keyed in.
> That would work in-browser, in app, or where ever. We're considering this
> model as a possibility for some services in our new building, with the
> hangup being desensitization of the materials after checkout.
>
> Jason
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 11:34 AM, Stephen Francoeur <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > We're looking into ways that tablets might be used by library staff
> > assisting patrons in a long line at the circ desk. With a tablet, an
> > additional staff person could pick folks off the line who might have
> > things that can be handled on a properly outfitted tablet.
> >
> > I am wondering if anyone has any examples of a library using the
> > camera on a tablet to scan barcodes on library materials (for check
> > out or check in) or if anyone has used one of those magnetic stripe
> > readers that you can attach to some tablets (such as the Square
> > Register for the iPad which can be used to process credit cards)? I'm
> > sure it's been done with a netbook; we're solely interested in doing this
> with a tablet.
> >
> > We're trying to see if we can install the GUI for Ex Libris Aleph on a
> > tablet running Microsoft RT. If this might work on tablets running
> > Android or iOS, that would be interesting as well.
> >
> > Any examples or thoughts about this would be most welcome.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Stephen Francoeur
> >
> > User Experience Librarian
> >
> > Newman Library
> >
> > Room 516
> >
> > Baruch College
> >
> > 151 E. 25th Street
> >
> > New York, NY 10010
> >
> >
> >
> > 646.312.1620
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > http://stephenfrancoeur.com
> >
>



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MSLIS

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