www.scandit.com @scandit

Blurry Barcode Scanning:What It Means and

Why It Matters

Christian Floerkemeier, CTOinfo@scandit.com

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INTRO

Only the most advanced mobile barcode scanning solutions such as our Scandit SDK allow the decoding of barcodes in blurry images.

Open-source solutions such as zxing or zbar can only decode barcodes in sharp images.

This talk explains why barcode decoding in blurry images is a must-have for any serious app.

Blurry Barcode Decoding with the Scandit SDK

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WHY BLURRY BARCODE SCANNING MATTERS

Essential for any device without autofocus:

Don’t miss out on an additional 140 million devices that could run your app!

Accelerates barcode decoding on average by 100% App users will be scanning barcodes

lightning fast

Scans barcodes reliably when the simple, “sharp-only” approaches fail App users will not become frustrated

because barcodes are not decoded

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ESSENTIAL FOR DEVICES WITHOUT AUTOFOCUS

Blurry Barcode Image with Android Phone Without

Autofocus Camera: Huawei X3

Barcodes appear blurry because focus of camera cannot be adjusted

Using low-end barcode scanners means that your app will not be useable by customers with such phones

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DON’T MISS OUT ON 54 MILLION POTENTIAL ANDROID USERS

Globally, 54 million Android devices do not have an autofocus camera

The lower the cost of the device, the higher the proportion of non-autofocus phones

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DON’T MISS OUT ON 86 MILLION POTENTIAL iOS USERS

86 million iOS devices around the world do not have autofocus cameras

This includes the iPad 2, iPod Touch (and the iPhone 3G)

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AUTOFOCUS INTRODUCES DELAY

Autofocus process takes 1-1.5 seconds on most devices

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BLURRY DECODING ACCELERATES BARCODE SCANNING

With built-in blurry barcode scanning capabilities, barcodes are decoded immediately.

Your app users don’t have to wait for the autofocus to finish.

Leads to a scanning time that is on average 100% faster.

Blurry Barcode Decoding with the Scandit SDK

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NO FAILED SCANS WHEN AUTOFOCUS FAILS

Autofocus cameras cannot focus on tiny objects

such as the fine barcode on this pen

A blurry barcode scanner such as the Scandit SDK has no problems decoding such a barcode.

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NO FAILED SCANS WHEN AUTOFOCUS FAILS

Autofocus cameras cannot focus on barcodes held to close to the camera

Users often think the closer the barcode to the camera, the easier the decoding

Low-end barcode scanners that can only decode sharp barcode image will frustrate the user because the barcode is not decoded until placed further away

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NO FAILED SCANS WHEN AUTOFOCUS FAILS

Autofocus cameras cannot compensate for motion blur

Users find it often difficult to hold the camera still

Low-end barcode scanners without blurry capabilities will require the users to hold the camera perfectly still

Increases learning curve and frustrates app users

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BLURRY BARCODE SCANNING IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

Transparent code on round surface

Non-uniform background

Crumpled surface

Shadow

Glare

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ADVANCED IMAGE PROCESSING SOLUTIONS

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 7000

50

100

150

200

250

300

brightness values along blurry scan line

position in scan line / pixels

bri

gh

tne

ss v

alu

e

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 7000

50

100

150

200

250

300

brightness values along sharp scan line

position in scan line / pixels

bri

gh

tne

ss v

alu

e

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CONCLUSION

Use Advanced Barcode Scanning Solutions such as the Scandit SDK:

To increase the number of devices supported by your app by 40%

To make barcode scanning lightning fast

To avoid frustrating your users with barcode scanning software that only works in ideal conditions

Blurry Barcode Decoding with the Scandit SDK

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FURTHER INFORMATION

Blurry Barcode Scanning Blog Post Series

Introduction: Why Bother?

Market Perspective: Original Research Study

Technical Perspective: Reasons for Use

Additional Web Resources

Try the Scandit SDK: http://bit.ly/wpScnf

Email: info@scandit.com

Twitter: @scandit

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/zTGt63