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October 2nd, 2000, 03:50 PM
#1
 Cat Scan thingies from Radio Shack
This may be the wrong forum for this, but...
Radio Shack (the Mecca of all things breakable) is giving out "CAT scan" bar code readers. You hook them up to your PC, scan a bar code on a product or add, and it takes you to the company web site.
Has anybody found a way to use/misuse these things? It seems to neat to use for their (limited) intended purpose. There's got to be *something* interesting we can do with them. Any ideas?
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A humble (hahaha!) computer tech uses booze and a scorpion to create science! http://savagepenguin.ontap.com/scorpio.htm
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Laugh at your problems... Everybody else does!
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October 2nd, 2000, 04:21 PM
#2
I have heard some really bad stuff about those. It seems that once you hook up one of these things to your PC, they can track your online usage. Sort of like "monitoring" where you are surfing. I read it in the Dallas Morning news a few weeks ago. It does not seem to be the best thing you can buy. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING..............
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You have to be smarter than what you are working with.
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October 2nd, 2000, 09:33 PM
#3
Mine's still in the package.
The other tech here took one apart and said that there was something in there to keep it from working as a regular scanner.
No big brother worries. I'm capable of typing in a URL without having to resort to the scanner. I just figured that there *had* to be some neato use for the thing.
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October 2nd, 2000, 10:09 PM
#4
I was thinking of modifying it into a motion sensor for my pc. It uses infared to tell the difference between light and dark lines. But the optics would have to be changed. Working on the code right now to see how it works. It would be so much easier if it was serial instead of ps2.
Don't worry about the Big Brother deal. Just give it a hotmail account for your e-mail.
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October 2nd, 2000, 10:18 PM
#5
i have yet to go pick one up...however as far as the hotmail acct to circumvent big brother? i dont think they really care as to your email addy, ratther, they are concerned w/ your browsing habits >shrug<
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prompt$p$g [dos = elite]
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October 3rd, 2000, 02:59 AM
#6
hmmm - watching browsing habits through a bar-code-scanner. Radio Shack?? LMAO
I need to go get 1 of these to see what the fuss is about i guess.
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Paint your old laptop!
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October 3rd, 2000, 08:31 AM
#7
It is not Radio Shack that has the capabilities to monitor your browsing habits, it is the company that makes the scanners. Radio Shack just sells them.
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You have to be smarter than what you are working with.
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October 3rd, 2000, 10:15 AM
#8
The company that makets it is digital convergence (I have no idea how to get to www.digitalconvergence.com without using the scanner.... hmmm... maybe my keyboard?). More info on the device is available at ********cat.com
They show you how to hook it up to your TV so you can hit the web sites of any commercials that play. So I guess they want the ability to monitor where you go online, the ability to monitor what you watch on TV, and the ability to make you visit certain sites.
Makes me feel nice and comfy knowing that they care about my life so much.
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A humble (hahaha!) computer tech uses booze and a scorpion to create science! http://savagepenguin.ontap.com/scorpio.htm
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Laugh at your problems... Everybody else does!
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October 3rd, 2000, 03:17 PM
#9
well i stopped by RS today and picked up my Cue Cat. Your right the software probably does track online useage.
The salesman was like "yep all you gotta do is hook this up to your keyboard port and pop the cd in!" Yeah mr radio shack man, im run home right now and hook this thing up to my machine and install this spyware.
Gonna take it apart later and see what's inside.
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Paint your old laptop!
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October 3rd, 2000, 04:33 PM
#10
Mine's apart right now. I made the mistake of taking a class called "Electricity" instead of "Electronics" in college... so I have learned very little by taking it apart. I did find a fingerprint on the big shiney piece.
I popped apart the black thing and found little white LED's. I think I'll plug it in and see how bright they are without the red filter.
I hope Shawn can figure out something. Thise seems too neat to simply throw away.
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October 3rd, 2000, 04:49 PM
#11
I've got an idea... How's about we make kindof a little contest to see who can make the most creative use out of one of these things... I was thinkin of seeing if I can transfer the guts of a little webcam over and make a little "webcat," just for sh*t's and giggles. Don't have a cue cat yet, so I don't know how much room I have to play with, but I'll pick one up tonight.
BTW, I wonder if they realize how many of these things are being used by us crazy techs as a toy, and never being used as they were intended....
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What's this button d--
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Do two things everyday that scare the bejesus out of someone else.
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October 5th, 2000, 07:39 PM
#12
most interesting use i have found so far ....
plug it in - dont install the spyware!!!
now you have a red flashlight for those late night sessions when the lights are out to keep from bugging the rest of the family - now you can look for things on the desk without turning on a light! <GRIN>
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Being normal is just an excuse for poor imagination!
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October 5th, 2000, 09:25 PM
#13
silly question (and being too lazy to stop in the 'shack and check myself) what do these things cost? would be fun to get myself one, being a college student's hard on the wallet, though :-(
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October 6th, 2000, 01:29 AM
#14
Registered User
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October 6th, 2000, 02:29 AM
#15
I stopped by the neighborhood Radio Shaft this evening to get a cat. The on duty genius told me that not many people were wanting them, so I asked if I could have two. He said no problem, just give him another name and address. When he asked what I wanted with two of them for, I told him I was going to tie up the old lady with one and beat her with the other. This wound up with a strange look and an end to the question.  Anyhow wound up with two cats, a catalog and a phone line tester for free. If I can figure out anything useful for this device, I will post it. Maybe there will be some good come from these things, when people load the run in the background crapware and hose their machines. We might see some extra work. Just thought of another use, tie a pair together and make a jump rope.
It's a dog eat dog world out there, and there isn't enough dog to go around. So get as much dog as you can, before all the dogs gone.
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