A laser bar code scanner is the most common type of barcode scanner. They are generally easy to use and not have to be close to a real bar code to read the bar code. The idea of the modern bar code can be traced back to Barcode Scanner948 when a student at Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, a teacher approached and told him of a conversation about a way to quickly and accurately detect product at the check out counter. The idea intrigued the teacher and worked on an article for the next two years, and finally invented the first bar code using Morse code. The students and teachers applied for a patent. IBM wanted to develop the technology, but held the teachers and pupils at a price that reflects more the potential of the technology and sold the patent to Philco in the early 1960s, Philco and continued to sell the patent RCA. There are many laser bar code scanners by manufacturers and are Wasp, Motorola, Honeywell and Datalogic choose to name a few. This barcode scanner from about six inches all the way up to about ten meters depending on the scanner that you want to buy, read. A laser bar code scanner will cost as little as one hundred and fifty U.S. dollars and as much as two thousand dollars. The Honeywell 4820 Scanner is great for light industrial mobile barcode reading applications. It has Bluetooth v1. 2 radio wireless communications for freedom of movement in retail, warehousing and distribution. It provides movement of up to ten meters from the base. This laser bar code scanner is listed at about six hundred dollars. The Wasp WLS9500 series laser bar code scanner is a high performance scanner – Magnetic Card Writer. It is ideal for healthcare, retail and warehouse uses. It will even read damaged or poorly printed barcodes and can scan bar codes up to about ten meters away. It is designed to withstand constant, rigorous use in office-warehouse environments. A note on some three hundred dollars. The Motorola Symbol LS2280 Laser barcode scanner is a lightweight, but give you maximum productivity. It will work in close contact to approximately seventeen inches immediately. It is ideal for hospitals, retail, education and government settings. It is very durable and offers a scratch resistant tempered glass exit window. It is priced at about hundred sixty dollars. These are just three examples of many major laser bar code scanners that are available. You can often find great deals online and it is also very easy to do a comparison of characteristics, to ensure that the purchase of bar code scanners that meet all your needs.