Using “Seeing AI” app to read bar codes

So many containers look and feel exactly alike: cans of soup, cereal boxes, spice bottles, and many more!  There is a quick, free, and easy way to find out what the contents of a container are by reading its bar code. And you don’t need any vision to use it! 

Seeing AI

You just need to know how to use your phone. Just download the free app made by Microsoft called “Seeing AI” onto your phone. Allow the app to access your phone camera because it needs the camera to locate and read the bar code. This app can do many things, but the focus of this post is to use it to read a bar code. 

First, you have to find the control (they call it a “channel”) called “product”.  When you aim your camera at the container, it will start to look for a bar code. Slowly turn the container to all sides and when the app detects the presence of a bar code, it will start to beep.  

It beeps faster and faster as the camera focuses on the whole bar code. Once it scans the bar code you will hear the words “processing” and in a few short seconds it will tell you exactly what is in the container.

Envision AI for Android

Note: this app only works on IOS systems. If you are an Android user, there is an app called Envision AI. There are online videos and tutorials to teach you how to use it. At the time of this writing there is a small cost for this app.

Watch this video to learn more about Seeing AI.