TempChecker uses proven, reliable, cost effective hardware to collect time and attendance data.

Barcodes? iButtons? Other?

Your first choice is to determine the most appropriate “data collection media”. The most common choices are barcode labels and iButtons. Additionally there is RFID and a variety of proprietary media.

To date, Oversight-Inc has focused on barcodes and iButtons; however, by design, our Service can be adapted to any media.

For ruggedness and data integrity we tend to recommend iButtons. As you can see, an iButton is a small silicon microchip, containing a unique serial number and is enclosed and protected by a rugged steel casing. Just like a barcode, they act as a unique “digital nametag” for any attribute you decide to associate with them.

The standard iButton

The metal top of each iButton acts as a “data contact”, meaning that it transmits the iButton’s serial number when it makes contact with an iButton reader. The reader in turn assigns a specific date and time when the contact is made.

Barcodes

Everyone is familiar with barcode technology; they are used throughout the world. We can create almost any size and shape of barcode label you may desire. We can also create ID badges with those labels.

In fact many of the ID badges used by many companies have barcodes automatically added to the badge. If you use these types of badges to your contingent labor employees, TempChecker can incorporate that into our Service.

Typical Access Control Badge

We can also create the barcode labels that can be adhered to whatever means used by you or your Staffing Agency.

While barcodes may start as a unique identifier, they can be easily copied or reproduced. They can also be easily destroyed or defaced.

iButtons

As a result, iButtons have become an excellent alternative to barcodes. They may be given to employees on key fobs with key rings for convenience. They may also be attached to structures or objects with the adhesives or mounting devices.

iButtons, key fobs and key ring

While iButtons are more rugged (weather-resistant and tamper-resistant) than barcodes, the iButtons themselves are more expensive.

The Future

Currently there is considerable discussion about RFID. As their use increases, the cost for both the readers and the tags will decline.

Oversight-Inc is currently exploring both a Biometric and a GPRS option. Assuming one or both prove cost effective; we should be able to offer a “real time” option early next year. That means you can review data collection as it is happening, rather than having to wait for the data to be specifically transferred to your web site.