Use a Barcode Reader With TimeSquAir

Why not use a Barecode Reader to add products on your shopping list?

Step 1: Get a Barcode Reader

You can get one on amazon, in this tutorial it's the « Inateck 2.4GHz Wireless USB Automatic Barcode Scanner Handheld Bar-code Reader »

Step 2: Connect Your Barcode Reader

Open the TimeSquAir (4 nylon screws on the back) and plug the USB dongle of your Barcode reader on the Raspberry Pi.

Step 3: Collect the Data

Then on Node-RED, take the node "Serial" in the input section. Create a new Serial Port and set it like the picture.

Step 4: Transform a Binary Code Into a String

Now if you use your Barcode, it'll return something like that : «02000700000000000000000000000000...»

If you want to translate this binary code into characters you just need to create a function that will do it.

Step 5: An Example

You can generate your shopping list by scanning the products and use http://world.openfoodfacts.org to match the reference of the barcode of your product.

This example just displays the result, but you can stock it in a file and send it by email when you go shopping.