A portable, talking barcode scanner will make life for Australia's vision impaired a whole lot easier.

Key Facts:

The scanner, known as ID Mate, can help the blind and low visioned at home, school or work — and even while doing the groceries.

ID Mate has been released by Visual Independence, a not-for-profit Australian charity set up to bring happiness through using assistive technology to those who are blind or live with low vision. Visual Independence is managed through an all-voluntary advisory committee from Vision Australia, Guide Dogs Victoria, GS1 Australia and Matthews Intelligent Identification.

Visual Independence’s Bernie Slagtman said ID Mate was an exciting step forward that would allow the vision impaired to become more independent and empowered in their daily lives.

ID Mate uses Omni directional technology to scan an item’s barcode. Users then listen to spoken descriptions from the scanner's database, which holds details of more than one million Australian bar code products.

Items not initially identified from the database can be added through user voice recording.

“And this could also extend to those not literate in English,” Bernie says.

The “all in one” barcode scanner can identify food, music, medicines, clothes and appliance instructions and can also be used for document retrieval.

Extra information and memos can be recorded, played and erased on the lightweight, easy-to-carry ID Mate.

Matthews’ Phil Biggs was one of those involved in assisting to bring the ID Mate to Australia.

“Barcodes can be used many ways, with many benefits, and this is another terrific example. Matthews is really proud to be involved in this proejct and its life-changing technology.”

Phil says it’s wonderful to now see retailer Coles funding 70 ID Mates initially for shoppers who would benefit from the technology, but would not normally be able to afford it. Coles’ sibling retailer Officeworks has also embraced the units nationwide.

ID Mate has the full endorsement and support of Vision Australia.

Its CEO, Gerard Menses, says the talking ID Mate makes a real difference in the lives of people who are blind or have low vision. “With the support and dedication of organisations such as Visual Independence and Coles, many people who are blind or have low vision can fully participate in life.”

Sioned Rees-Thomas, Coles’ GM of customer service, says, “Coles is pleased to be able to fund these units and assist those who would normally struggle with everyday activities that most of us take for granted, such as shopping and identifying the right ingredients to prepare meals.”

Visual Independence, through its association with Vision Australia and Guide Dogs Victoria will screen applicants for the ID Mate at Coles. Eligible applicants will need to satisfy means-testing criteria.

GS1 Australia, which is providing the Australian bar-code database free of charge to Visual Independence, appealed to manufacturers to use GS1net to provide product information that will help the ID Mate project.

Bernie Slagtman says a simple data exchange of information will greatly enhance the quality of life of vision-impaired Australians. “Visual Independence aims to ensure that the vision-impaired community has the same access to product information as a sighted person.” 

For more information about the Coles’ grants programme or on ID mate, contact Bernie Slagtman of Visual Independence on 03 9853 9880 or 0402 85 98 85 or email
info@visualindependence.org.au