ISBN Barcode Reader & Book Lookup in Android

Situation

• A mobile startup in Silicon Valley with focus on retail consumer services
• Company wants to specialize on book retail as a starting point

Challenge

• Can a mobile app provide real-time access to information on books while the user is inside store?
• What is the easiest way to access latest reader reviews, price and other relevant information with minimal keyboard input?

Harbinger Solution

• An Android app that uses camera to scan ISBN barcode from the back of a book
• Displays summary information about the scanned book by calling isbndb.com Web Service
• Application provides access to more specific information such as reviews, images, price and other details from the web

Technologies & Tools

• Android 1.6 SDK
• Camera API
• Barcode Formats: EAN13, EAN8, Code128, Code39, QACode, UPC
• Permissions: Camera, Vibrate, Flashlight, Internet
• Web Service using REST protocol
• Parsing of XML response using SAX parser
• UI: Custom View, Scroll View, Gesture Detector

Benefits

• Company provides users with an on-the-go experience of fetching real-time information about book reviews
• Users able to make informed decisions on purchases based on latest information and peer reviews