And the oldest working barcode device Ryzex found was...
Winner of the Ryzex oldest working barcode device contest will receive a new Psion Teklogix handheld computer.
-- Manufacturing Business Technology, 10/14/2009 1:17:29 PM
 Ryzex found this MSI 2100 from the early 1970s to be the oldest operational barcode device out of two months of submissions. |
Bellingham, WA — Ryzex, a mobile technology services company, found what it believes to be the world's oldest working barcode device as part of "The Big Upgrade" competition sponsored by Psion Teklogix. The MSI 2100 from the early 1970s has been found to be the oldest operational barcode device out of two months of submissions, Ryzex said in an Oct. 12 announcement. The portable data collection terminal is battery powered and includes a cassette tape for data memory.
"While barcode technology may not be top of everyone's mind, it has become ubiquitous and a mission critical technology for businesses today," said Ryzex CEO Lorne Rubis. "Google even paid homage to the 57th anniversary of the first barcode patent recently by replacing their logo for a day with the familiar black and white bar code design."
While the contest was a search to find the oldest working barcode data collection device, the grand prize winner was randomly selected from all eligible entries received, Ryzex said.
 The winner of the barcode device contest, randomly selected by Ryzex from all entries, was Tyler Templeton from New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., who submitted his Telxon PTC-600 and 960 mobile computers for portable barcode data capture. |
The winner, Tyler Templeton from New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., who submitted his Telxon PTC-600 and 960 mobile computers for portable barcode data capture, received a new handheld computer from Psion Teklogix to replace his old legacy device.
"With this contest, we saw how people stretched the life of their barcode scanning devices to an extreme. This illustrates how hard it can be to recognize when equipment starts to cost a company more in maintenance and lost productivity than it's worth," said Chris Glennon, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryzex. "A lifecycle management approach like Ryzex's enables companies to conserve devices, while also helping identify obsolete equipment and replace it when it becomes appropriate to take advantage of the latest industry advances."
With the Ryzex FullUse mobile technology solution, companies get the most value out of mobile computing and data collection systems at the lowest total cost of ownership. The typical solution consists of the right combination of hardware, software, maintenance, integration services, network infrastructure, responsible recycling and more, Ryzex says. This approach makes the adoption and management of a company's mobile solutions easy and cost effective.
 Psion Teklogix Workabout Pro has hardware expansion slots that make adding new modules fast and easy, including fingerprint scanners to the largest selection of RFID readers on any handheld device, the company says. |
With the recently launched Intelligent Refresh ("i-Refresh") program from Ryzex, companies can earn free equipment upgrades by paying for ongoing maintenance.
Ryzex Big Upgrade contest winner will receive a choice of a new Psion Teklogix Ikon, Neo or Workabout Pro handheld mobile computer, said to deliver performance and durability in a pocketsize package. The Psion Teklogix devices meet the demands of light industrial, retail, or supply chain logistics operations, Ryzex says, and are valued at up to $3,200.
"We're known as a company that produces the industry's most rugged and reliable mobile computers and are glad to provide Mr. Templeton a device that will last, as well as bring him the latest improvements in technology," said Mike Jachimiec, vice president of channel sales for Psion Teklogix.
Also read from MBT:
- Oldest barcode device contest: See some of the entries;
- Do you have the oldest working barcode device?
- Bar code and laser scanner celebrate 35th anniversary.
- Edited by Mark T. Hoske, electronic products editor, Manufacturing Business Technology, MBT www.mbtmag.com
