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I had a lengthy conference call this morning with a client regarding one of our applications. At the heart of the matter was the elimination of touch points for their timeclock software. The current software (basically a cloud-based SPA that runs out of a Click-Once browser control) was designed to work on their existing touchscreen POS terminals.
Now they want to go touchless by using fixed scanners for id badges. (for both their POS (another vendor) and our app) For the most part, the app is pretty simple:
0: Enter a PIN (already works with scanner, no problem)
1: Once PIN is validated, choose an option (Cancel, View Schedule, Clock In/Out/Lunch (depending on current status))
2: Take appropriate action and return to the PIN screen.
I've just started thinking about this and so far have come to the conclusion that I will need to add a 'scanner mode' that basically eliminates the choices in step 1...either you're in or you're out and the appropriate action gets triggered automatically and back to 0 for the next one...they should be able to take it out of 'scanner mode' if they want the options back and feel brave.
Now to come up with a time/expense guesstimate and multiply it by 3 for the quote.
The customer now needs to order around 400 scanners and spend the summer getting them setup and ready. Luckily, I don't have to be involved in that part of things.
So, is this touchless movement just a passing fad, or is it here to stay? Will this now create a shortage of continuous mode scanners? (likely built in a very large country in Asia!)
It seems pointless when you consider all the public touchpoints out there...ATMs, debit/credit card readers at the local bodega, gas pumps, door handles, etc. Perhaps eventually, we'll all handle transactions by scanning a tattoo or embedded chip.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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Variations on POS "touchless" entries I have seen in our area:
1. Our local Walgreens provides you with a cotton swab when you have to push buttons on the terminal. You press the buttons with the swab, so you don't have to touch them.
2. Our local Target covers the POS terminal buttons with a thin layer of plastic that gets replaced regularly.
I don't know what that means in the long term for POS keypads!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
modified 22-May-20 15:34pm.
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One thing to watch for in the change from entering numbers and scanning is 'bounce' (double clocking). The user scans their card (or whatever) and then reverses the gesture to be able to put their card back from whence it came which causes it to be rescanned. Your software will have to look for clock in / clock out happening in a very short space of time (e.g. less than 5 seconds) and just ignore the 2nd swipe.
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jsc42 wrote: entering numbers and scanning is 'bounce' (double clocking).
Excellent point!
Bounce protection was enabled a few years ago after tracking down a bounce (double-clocking) issue that at first seemed random and sporadic until a few users (out of hundreds) started showing a pattern. I didn't know it was possible to submit a webform twice by double-clicking. Once I had mastered the extreme double-click method, I was able to replicate then address the problem.
My wife has a tendency to double-click everything as well, including buttons or links in web pages.
As for scanner bounce, I would hope the scanner has a programmable delay to help eliminate double-scans.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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If you're just scanning to make a "state transition" (on shift/off shift, undifferentiated), then you'll need a defence against lost/forgotten/duplicated transitions. For example, when they scan "in", you should provide some feedback like "Welcome", and "Goodbye" for scanning "out", and provide a procedure for sorting things out if they get the "wrong" feedback.
It's not simple!
Cheers,
Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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kmoorevs wrote: So, is this touchless movement just a passing fad, or is it here to stay?
It's here to stay because at the beginning of the year human beings lost their immune systems, and big companies are raking it in under lockdown rules.
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barcode the options and give each employee the barcodes on paper so they can select what their doing by waving it in front of the fixed scanner. Completely touchless!
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Marc Clifton wrote: give each employee the barcodes on paper I'm expecting that at least a dozen each day will forget to bring/lose their badge...I certainly can't expect them to keep up with anything else.
I'm actually leaning towards rewriting the app to work with Xbox/Kinect on a huge display so they can just point to their option and blink. I'm also thinking of adding a thermal sensor and a metal detector so it can monitor body temps and find weapons.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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Maximilien wrote: probably available on Spotify Yes it is, added to my playlist
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"This is the fifth time that you have been late to work this week! Do you know what that means?!"
I said, "That it's Friday?"
Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other.
Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it.
Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.
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bit of a weak response.
I would have gone with:
Yes! It's Friday!
... tomorrow can sleep in again except it'll be without some dumbass bugging me about it.
pestilence [ pes-tl-uh ns ] noun
1. a deadly or virulent epidemic disease. especially bubonic plague.
2. something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil.
Synonyms: pest, plague, CCP
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Boss always yells at me; take out the garbage, quit picking your nose, did that smell come out of you?
What a poor lad to do?
I'm not sure how many it cookies it makes to be happy, but so far it's not 271
JaxCoder.com
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...get out of waste management.
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Kris Lantz wrote: ...get out of waste management.
I'm retired but I like to stay busy.
I'm not sure how many it cookies it makes to be happy, but so far it's not 271
JaxCoder.com
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Mike Hankey wrote: did that smell come out of you No it was the dog!
We have a flatulent lab.
The worst is "don't use the toilet I just cleaned them" - whats a lad to do...
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity -
RAH
I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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Many years ago I had a large German Shepard and whenever I feed him soft dog food, Alpo, he would wake us out of a dead sleep and bring tears to my our eyes.
I'm not sure how many it cookies it makes to be happy, but so far it's not 27.
JaxCoder.com
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ZurdoDev wrote: "This is the fifth time that you have been late to work this week! Do you know what that means?!"
Yes, if you don't give me that raise, this will continue to be the new normal.
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the week starts on sunday: so friday would be day 6, not 5. and unless you work weekends, it would be impossible to be late to work on Saturday. so, you were late to work on Thursday or your boss is high on drugs and you should yell back.
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Enjoy smirking at people while you can, they allready banned "Smoking" and "Smacking" ...
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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This is very grin news indeed!
If you can't laugh at yourself - ask me and I will do it for you.
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Banning smirking is definitely a simper ban than the others.
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