Rating of the best applications for scanning barcodes on iOS and Android. A SCiO gadget has been created that determines the composition of food. Food scanner.

Summer is just around the corner, and for many, it's time to diet in order to look better in swimwear for the hot season. Usually, when counting calories, you need to look at tables and food databases, which, in fact, may not correspond to the contents on your plates.

A new device launched on Kickstarter aims to simplify this process by using spectrometry to analyze and provide information about any food consumed - in real time. Dubbed SCiO, this molecular scanner, developed by Tel Aviv-based Consumer Physics, takes spectroscopy technology (common in laboratories and industrial environments) into a user device no larger than a flash drive.

The process is very simple: you need to synchronize SCiO with your phone via Bluetooth, bring it to the product, say, an apple, at about a distance of 2-3cm, and press the button. In just a few seconds, SCiO analyzes the actual chemical composition of the apple, sends the data to the cloud, accurately identifies the product and provides nutritional information. The corresponding application can also provide information on how ripe the apple is.

The operating principle of SCiO is based on near-infrared spectroscopy. The physics behind this method of analyzing substances is that each type of molecule vibrates in a unique way, and these vibrations interact with light to create its own unique optical signature.

SCiO contains a light source that irradiates the sample, and then an optical spectrometer sensor collects the light reflected from the sample. The spectrometer breaks the light into individual spectra, which include all the information needed to detect the result of this interaction between the reflected light and the molecules in the sample.

Spectrometers used in infrared spectroscopy are typically very large and expensive: they can be the size of a laptop and cost tens of thousands of dollars, while the unique SCiO spectrometer is tiny and inexpensive. SCiO's developers have reinvented the spectrometer, combining low-cost optics and advanced signal processing algorithms.

In addition, SCiO can also scan medications. During a demonstration of the device, Consumer Physics co-founder Dror Sharon scanned two brands of the drug ibuprofen, and SCiO was able to determine which drug was counterfeit. As for the other medical capabilities of the SCiO scanner, Sharon explained that the device will not initially be sold as a medical device, but it has the ability to scan skin and body fluids and, with enough consumer demand, could very well evolve into a medical device.

All horizons are open to potential applications; SCiO's device has the ability to identify a wide range of food and medicine products, but the company will need user help to expand its database. Consumer Physics will also be releasing an application developer kit so programmers can create their own applications using SCiO. One of these is an app that helps you grow a houseplant: scan your plant using the included app and it will tell you if your plant needs water.

At the moment, the SCiO handheld molecular scanner has already raised $722,759 against a stated goal of $200,000.

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We live in an era of changing food production, daily expanding lists of E-additives and genetically transformed products. The buyer, faced with the unfamiliar world of modern product composition, obviously needs support, and it did not take long to arrive. OutScanner is a food scanner application for iOS that is useful because it can determine the composition of the product you have chosen, report harmful additives, inform about the impact of modern ingredients on the human body, and many other useful things.

Often, when buying products in supermarkets, we do not have the opportunity to carefully read the ingredients of the goods (or simply do not have enough time for this). A mobile food scanner application will help solve the problem - you can quickly and easily display the ingredients of any product you like on your phone screen.

Working with OutScanner is made as easy and convenient as possible. However, the application requires an Internet connection. To determine the composition, simply use a product barcode scanner by pointing it at the packaging.

To quickly assess the safety of a product and compare it with other products, the OutScanner application has developed a comprehensive product hazard index. The service calculates this value for each purchase - the lower the index, the safer the product.

Also, all basic ingredients and nutritional supplements have detailed descriptions, which can be viewed in the application.

The most dangerous ingredients that you 100% want to exclude from your diet are included in special stop lists. With their help, you don't have to study the descriptions of hundreds of harmful additives, just activate the appropriate options. After this, OutScanner will warn you when using the food scanner if a particular product contains ingredients from the stop list.

OutScanner was created in the hope that increased information about unsafe ingredients would make people's lives easier and more modern. Main advantages of the project:

ease of use;
availability of complete information about additives;
safety index for quickly identifying harmful products;
stop lists.

One of the disadvantages of OutScanner is that currently the product barcode scanner only works on iOS. True, the developers promise to fix this soon. In general, the solution is interesting, sometimes you are too lazy to read the contents of products, and then you discover very strange (and not always good) additives in the product.

In particular, for conducting inventories, creating barcodes, and so on. Also, most of these applications have the functions of sending reports by e-mail or notification of shortages of goods in warehouses. We've collected the best barcode scanning apps for iOS and Android.

TOP applications for scanning barcodes.

This is a simple application with uncomplicated functionality. But sometimes this is exactly what users need. The app recognizes barcodes and stores them in a central database, putting exactly what you're looking for into a spreadsheet.

OS: iOS, Android

Program features:

date and time stamps;
custom fields for data entry;
supports one large database.

Price:

Android - $0.99;
iTunes - $2.99.

With QuickMark you can not only scan, but also create barcodes and QR codes. The cross-platform scanner reads multiple barcode formats, making it one of the most versatile barcode apps around. You can quickly and easily save URLs, item names, locations, and more. In general, users are satisfied with the work of the utility, although some note inaccurate scanning of codes.

OS: Android, iOS, Windows.

Program features:

quickly scans multiple QR codes and barcodes;
Fully compatible with multiple devices;
attaching images to posts;
accurate and simple.

Cost: free.

ScanLife, a barcode scanner app, allows you to scan QR codes and barcodes on any product and extract information such as manufacturer details and ingredients, prices and nearby places where you can purchase such products in real time. The ScanLife app is part of a larger platform for companies that want to reach more mobile users by incorporating QR codes into their marketing strategy.

OS: iOS, Android.

Program features:

Cost: from $0 to $85 per month.

BarCloud

BarCloud is a remote asset or inventory management program accessible from any iOS or Android device, as well as from any Internet browser. With automatic backups and the ability to schedule custom backups, your data is always safe and accessible from any device. Simple inventory counting is supported for complex systems such as batch and serial inventory, so you'll never lose control of your shared data using the BarCloud inventory system.

OS: iOS, Android

Program features:

enter data manually or scan an image;
suppliers, customers, products, locations and other data;
search and view files;
filters;
export data to PDF or Excel;
visual analytics tools;
expired goods, expiring dates, low stock.

There is a free version. Premium costs range from $25 to $125 per month.

NeoReader has received a lot of positive reviews from iTunes and Google Play users. The latest one is much better than the previous ones. Most users claim that the software scans almost any code, unlike conventional scanner applications, which may show an error when trying to scan.

OS: Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows, Ovi.

Program features:

Cost: free.

I-nigma is free to download, but the company uses advertising to offset some of the costs of development and ongoing fixes. Therefore, advertisements may be displayed on the control panel, although this does not affect the functionality of the utility in any way. The software decrypts vCards and MeCards, instantly saving contact information in your phone's contact list, opens cards using Geo-codes and adds events to the calendar. Of course, the utility scans standard QR, DataMatrix and UPC/EAN.

OS: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows.

Peculiarities:

Cost: free.

Lynkee is a barcode scanning application for Android, iPhone and Windows, aimed more at the consumer than inventory or asset management. It is capable of scanning a variety of 1D and 2D barcodes, including DataMatrix, vCards and MECARDs for storing contact information, price comparison, scan history search, etc. The utility is fast and accurate.

OS: Android, iOS, Windows.

Peculiarities:

Cost: free.

Product barcode verification application that supports 2D, Bidi and 1D barcodes (DataMatrix/QR/Ean 8 and 13). Users can create their own optical barcodes for free and scan any supported format to quickly access content such as music, images, videos, files, websites, etc. Built-in sharing features allow you to share scanned content. Available on Android and iPhone.

OS: iOS, Android, Lumia and Windows.

Peculiarities:

quickly scans 2D, Bidi, 1D;
supports DataMatrix, QR, Ean 8 and 13 1D;
create your own optical barcodes;
access music, videos, websites and other content.

Cost: free.

Bee Tagg's free barcode reader app is quite sophisticated in terms of its scanning functionality, but it doesn't offer any comprehensive built-in database capabilities. However, you can copy and paste the information and codes for later use.

OS: iOS, Blackberry, Android, Windows, Samsung, Ovi.

Program features:

goes beyond simply opening a browser window;
contextual actions;
gets more information than most scanner apps;
2D codes, including QR codes, Bee Tagg and DataMatrix codes;
1D, including EAN-13 and UPC-A;
create your own code to exchange information;
supports various content types including vCard, MeCard, Text, SMS, eMail, Geo, Event.

Cost: free.

Kaywa

Kaywa claims to be the best barcode detection app, and users seem to agree for the most part. This app has received a lot of positive reviews on both iTunes and Google Play. In this case, the data is stored in the internal memory of your phone. This means that the software can affect the speed of the device. But this is compensated by ease of use and speed. The utility is available for Android and iPhone.

OS: Android, iOS.

Program features:

free QR code generator;
scanning all types of barcodes;
automatically detects the code type;
scanning history with text and geolocation data.

Cost: free.

Accusoft Barcode Scanner was created to demonstrate the functionality of Barcode Xpress for Mobile, Accusoft's barcode SDK for Android. It is designed for businesses and developers who want to create a barcode app for Android devices, integrating powerful decoding capabilities into a custom app designed specifically for your company's requirements. For instant decoding, position the barcode in the middle of the screen. Depending on the data stored in it, you can be redirected to a website, view product information, etc. Recognizes a variety of 1D and 2D codes.

Peculiarities:

Cost: free.

ixMAT uses Java-based software to turn your device into a barcode scanner. This free application is designed for Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Java ME devices, but is not available for iPhone or iPad. Supports a variety of 1D and 2D codes, automatic analysis, no need to enter the barcode type.

Program features:

ability to scan inverted DataMatrix codes and barcodes;
quick search;
scan history;
mass mode;
send small text files by email
Not compatible with iOS devices.

Cost: free.

Stock Control

The barcode scanning app developed by Kiwi Objects is designed to improve productivity by giving you control over your inventory. Scan objects, organize your database by category, type or function (any hierarchy is available).

Program features:

advanced data management;
organization by categories – you can create logical hierarchies;
warnings about shortages of goods;
import and export;
PDF catalogs, printing and sending by e-mail.

Cost: free.

Scandit is an SDK that allows businesses to use barcode scanning in their mobile applications. The SDK is similar to a developer API in that it allows companies to create mobile apps for iOS or Android. Not quite a traditional ready-made mobile application, Scandit is a shell for integrating the functionality of barcode scanners into mobile gadgets. Suitable for enterprises introducing their own mobile applications. Available for both Android and iPhone.

OS: iOS, Android, Symbian.

Program features:

turning smartphones and tablets into barcode scanners;
fast and accurate barcode scanning;
wide range of supported characters;
does not require autofocus;
scanning from any angle;
size does not affect accuracy.

There is a free version. A premium subscription costs $399 per month.

Visiting supermarkets with such applications will be much more fun. At the same time, they can be used in your own business - to create barcodes or conduct inventory. Of course, you will have to pay for premium features, but most often it is a small amount that will quickly pay for itself.

Hi all! Today we’ll talk about an unusual way to earn additional income using your mobile phone and a special application: making money by scanning your purchases in the Smartscan service.

Want to get paid monthly for sharing your purchases? Or does such easy money seem like a myth?

In fact, thanks to the service smartscan.gfk.ru additional income is more than real. With its help, the purchases of citizens of our country are studied.

Register Online Anyone can. The main condition for generating income is to regularly talk about your personal or family purchases.

You don't need to buy any mandatory things - just what you really need.

The only caveat is that only the following are accepted into the project without restrictions:

respondents aged 50+ from any locality of the Russian Federation;
residents of settlements with a population of less than 50 thousand at any age (18+).

Other categories may not be accepted immediately. In any case, register and fill out the form Everyone should provide real data, otherwise there is a risk of exclusion from the program.

How it works?

You make a purchase anywhere: a store, salon, pharmacy, trade pavilion, department store. You must receive a receipt confirming the purchase.
After this you will need to go to the site smartscan and add his photo.
Next, you need to scan the barcodes of the products using a special application on your tablet or smartphone.

You need to make all your purchases (food, cosmetics and clothing, household chemicals, pet products, pharmaceutical products in offline and online stores). This will require you to spend 20-30 minutes throughout the week, and the reward is definitely worth the effort.

Reward for participation in the program

Program participants who regularly enter data on their purchases for a whole month receive 300 points. Those who talk about their shopping experiences for a whole year receive an additional 500 points.

Starting from the second year, the reward increases to 1000 points.

Points correspond to rubles 1 to 1. When you reach the minimum amount of 900 points, you can order a withdrawal of money to your phone or bank card.

By the way, in addition to scanning your purchases, you can additionally participate in various surveys offered. In this case, the minimum amount for withdrawal can be collected much faster.

Additionally, you will be given a monthly report of your purchases and spending in the form of a visual chart (see below), as well as the opportunity to participate in additional surveys and studies that increase your reward.

How to register on the site?

To get an account on the portal smartscan.gfk.ru, you need to click on the “Register” button on the main page.

You will see a form with empty fields that you need to fill out. You will need to indicate your full name, gender, date of birth, email address, password, your phone number and the number of a loved one.

After this, check the box next to your consent to the processing of personal data and click on the “Next” button.

The second part of the questionnaire will open, where you will need to indicate the country, federal district, territory/region, district and locality.

You will also need to enter the value from the picture as confirmation that the registration is not carried out by a bot, but by a person. All you have to do is click on the “Complete registration” button.

A notification will appear on the site that your registration details have been successfully confirmed. After this, you can log into your “Personal Account” using the email and password specified during registration.

Your account will ask you to fill out a profile to receive a code that will allow you to continue further work with the service.

In your profile you need to indicate your contact information, residential address, information about all family members, including babies, as well as income level. You will also need to answer the question of where you learned about the project.

The next step is to fill out the installation form.

You will see detailed instructions on what to do.

After this, you will need to click on the “Next” button in the lower right corner again.

Please note that the process of completing the survey in percentage terms is displayed at the top.

After all questions have been answered, a notification about the successful completion of the survey and an offer to install a scanner will appear. To do this, you will need to download the GfK SmartScan application from Google Play for Android or App Store for iOS.

To earn bonuses, you will need to go into the application after each purchase and indicate who the buyer is (you or another family member), where the purchase was made (name of the store, department store, shopping center), what products were purchased (scan their barcodes) and add a photo of the receipt.

This all takes a matter of minutes, but it is important to note that you need to deposit any purchases made at retail outlets, even minor ones.

In other words, even if you purchased only napkins or one toothbrush in the store, then this is also worth adding to the application.

Participation in the study is available only to residents of the Russian Federation who have a smartphone or tablet running the Android operating system, starting with version 4.2, or with the iOS 8 operating system and higher.

This concludes the review of the service. Earn money on monthly purchases - register for smartscan.gfk.ru! And subscribe to blog updates via Telegram.

Good luck to everyone and see you soon!

German scientists have created a pocket scanner that allows you to monitor the freshness of food at home or on the counter of your supermarket.

According to a study conducted by the environmental organization WWF, 10 million tons of food are wasted every year in Germany, despite the fact that it is still edible.

A pocket-sized food scanner will allow consumers and supermarket employees to accurately determine whether a product has spoiled or is still safe.

The device uses near-infrared rays to determine the suitability of food and displays the results on a mobile application.

The technology was developed by employees of the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics on behalf of the Bavarian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry.

Is my yogurt in the refrigerator still fresh?

Are the vegetables on the counter edible?

When consumers have doubts, we tend to throw food in the trash. Many foods end up in landfills simply because they look unappetizing or are simply expired—but these items may still be edible.

In Bavaria alone, 1.3 million tons of food are thrown away every year.

Through the "We Save Food" alliance, the Bavarian Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry wants to fight waste. As part of one of the projects, officials ordered an inexpensive and universal scanner that determines the actual freshness of products, with and without packaging.

Infrared light determines the quality of products

The mobile scanner is based on a near-infrared (NIR) sensor, which assesses the degree of suitability of food, determines its quantity and composition. According to Dr. Robin Grün from Fraunhofer IOSB, the product under study is irradiated with the highest precision, after which the sensor analyzes the spectrum of the reflected light.

“The absorbed wavelengths allow us to draw conclusions about the exact chemical composition of the products,” explains Dr. Grüna, project leader.

In laboratory conditions, the quantitative assessment of individual components using near-infrared spectroscopy has been performed for a long time. The innovation is the compactness, low cost and simplicity of the new scanner.

“Food products are often counterfeited. For example, trout is sold as salmon. After proper preparation, our device can determine the authenticity of the product. The scanner is able to detect the falsification of products such as olive oil,” added physicist Julius Krause.

However, the system has its limitations: it can only assess the quality of a homogeneous product. In other words, it is impossible to check pizza and cake, but Fraunhofer scientists are actively working on this function. To determine food quality from sensors and predict shelf life, research teams are developing intelligent algorithms that look for patterns in the data.

“Thanks to machine learning, recognition potential can be increased. Our tests looked at tomatoes and ground beef. So, we used statistical methods to relate changes in the NIR spectrum of ground beef to the rate of microbial contamination, and based on the resulting diagrams, we predicted the remaining shelf life of the meat,” Grüna explained.

The app displays the expiration date of food

What to do with the obtained measurements? The Germans took care of the convenience of users. The scanner sends data via Bluetooth to a database for analysis - a cloud-based solution that provides test results. The results are then displayed by a mobile app, which tells the user how long the product will stay fresh under these storage conditions or warns that it has already expired.

In the future, everyone will be able to use such a device.

Finally, scientists did not forget to emphasize savings. The user will receive valuable advice on alternative ways to use products that have already expired. This will help reduce waste and save money. Field trials of the scanner for checking food freshness should begin in German supermarkets in the first half of 2019.

Expired minced meat is not the limit of the capabilities of the original technology.

Scientists believe that with appropriate modifications, the device can be used for sorting and quality control of plastic, wood, textiles and minerals.

K. Mokanov: clinical pharmacist and professional medical translator

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