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| Navatec launch their new optical bar-mouseRL-M11 Following the sustained success of the series 32 roller-ball Navatec bar-mouse, Navatec have now launched an optical version. Self non-software dependent install Like the roller ball version, the new optical version requires no software install but is self-installing. The output of a barcode scan is a simulated keyboard input to the computer.  The optical bar-mouse is batteryless, being connected to the computer using a USB port. All logical decoding is completed within the scanner circuit so, like the roller-ball, there is no "wedge" and no need to connect through the keyboad connector.The roller ball version was less configurable and has been the successful work horse for Navatec Voyager based online services. In these applications a wide configurability was achieved using server-based scripts and this worked well with online systems supporting some 40 different language keyboard layouts. Hector McNeill of Navatec says, "This has been the most practical basis for applying bar-mouse in support of our own online business service provisions. This has brought us a long way down the learning curve placing us in a position of leadership in terms of experience with the implementation and management of a wide range of online applications which use bar-mouse technology." Promoting productive use of bar-mouse technology RL-M11 "We are a vertically integrated privately-funded high technology applied research and services supply organization and have developed several unique online systems solutions which are beginning to attract interest. We have received an increasing number of enquiries on the part of other online technology service providers related to various forms of collaboration. However, our preference is to remain in this line of work since we believe it has been successful in helping us sustain a steady growth in innovation and we do not want to risk losing this lead. On the other hand we welcome the opportunity to promote a broader adoption of this technology. Therefore in the fall of 2005, we devloped a marketing strategy which will not constrain sales volume while maintaining the quality of services. To achieve this it is essential to provide all interested online service providers with sufficient design autonomy so as to be able to support their customers using bar-mouse technology. This systems engineering challenge has been addressed by making the new bar-mouse completely user configurable. We have also taken up the optical option based upon user feedback." Making the product accessible McNeill added,"Barcode devices are high cost when one compares factory gate prices to consumer prices. By heading for volume sales it should be possible for us to lever down production costs and pass on this advantage in the form of lower unit prices. However, barcode technology is not just reading barcodes but involves a large range of operational factors including the printing of barcodes and applications techniques applied around barcoded items. We are a long way down the online applications learning curve in terms of experience in the design, implementation and management of a wide range of online applications using bar-mouse technology. We are therefore in an excellent position to provide customers with sound technical support for all aspects optical bar-mouse applications." The optical bar-mouse is fully user-configurable RL-M11 The high degree of configurability of the optical bar-mouse is its main advantage. This means it can be used for any other Windows applications, including online applications, and Navatec Voyager barcode-related services. On the other hand the roller-ball will continue to receive Navatec technical support as long as customers have them. The optical bar-mouse is being phased in gradually over the next 2 years but customers will still have the option to chose. McNeill says he thinks by the end of 2007 most users will be using optical. Barcodes read The optical bar-mouse reads all common barcodes including Codabar/NW7, Code-11, Code-39, Code-93, Code 128, EAN-8, EAN-13, Industrial 2 of 5, Interleaved 2 of 5, ITF(Interleaved 2 of 5), Matrix 2 of 5, MSI/Plessey, NW7, UCC/EAN-128J, UPC-A and UPC-E. Navatec have developed a range of server end scripts which can generate barcoded document pages and labels (The scripts are based on ECMAScript extensions and compatible with JavaScript, Seel-Telesis®-Script, DScript (Vanguard), ActionScript (Adobe-Macromedia), SwishScript (SwishMax, SwishVideo) and can command Windows Interface Languages for manipulating the client and server end MS Operating System, including all multimedia operations and any other Windows program. Naturally the optical bar-mouse reads all Seel-Telesis®-ENC (encrypted barcodes) including Seel-Telesis®-STG (food chain traceability), Seel-Telesis®-STN (food packing & process traceability monitoring) and Seel-Telesis®-ECO (for identifying illegally logged tropical rainforest timber). It also reads the Navatrac X-A series for Real Net security and the Navatrac X-B series (linked to OOS encrypted transmission) for law enforcement agencies including parallel security data for any transported items, anti-fraud/anti-smuggling and document flow anti-fraud/anti-forgery system. Navatec.Com provide services for customers to develop their own barcode design series for production, inventory, supply chain, document flow management and security purposes. This product completed all pre-manufacturing quality control and performance tests at the end of 2005 and the first production batches were released in March 2006. Navatec completed server and online service tests successfully in August 2006 and SEEL (Systems Engineering Economics Lab) completed safety and logic benchtests successfully in September 2006. The product will be commercially available at the end of 2006. |