CueCat barcode scanner
The CueCat (trademarked :CueCat) is a cat-shaped handheld barcode reader developed in the late 1990s by the now-defunct Digital Convergence Corporation, which connected to computers using the PS/2 keyboard port and later USB. The CueCat enabled a user to open a link to an Internet URL by scanning a barcode — called a "cue" by Digital Convergence — appearing in an article or catalog or on some other printed matter. In this way a user could be directed to a web page containing related information without having to enter a URL. The system that supported this is no longer in operation.
[edit] Introduction
A CueCat "cue". The bars are tilted 22.5° to the left, both for stylistic reasons and to avoid Lemelson parallel barcode patent concerns.
In late 2000, advertisements containing CueCat barcodes briefly appeared in some high-circulation U.S. mass-market periodicals, notably Parade magazine, Forbes magazine and Wired magazine. For a time, RadioShack published catalogs containing these barcodes, and even distributed CueCat devices at no charge. CueCats were also bulk mailed (unsolicited) to certain mailing lists, such as subscribers of technology magazines, notably Wired magazine. For roughly a year, starting in October 2000, The Dallas Morning News and other Belo-owned newspapers added the barcodes next to major articles (Belo had invested in Digital Convergence).
Joel Spolsky speculated about the apparently large sums invested in the unsuccessful launch of the device, noting that according to the Digital Convergence website, the company claimed to have 200 employees as of 2000. Spolsky estimated that the "postage costs alone" of mailing CueCats to every subscriber of Wired, as was apparently done, must have been $1 million.[1]
The data format was proprietary, being scrambled so as not to be usable as plain text. However, the barcode itself is closely related to Code 128, and the scanner was also capable of reading EAN/UPC and other symbologies. Because of the weak obfuscation of the data, the software for decoding the CueCat's output quickly appeared on the Internet, followed by a plethora of unofficial applications.
:CRQ (a play on "see our cue") is software developed by Digital:Convergence intended to convert "cues" from television signals and the :Cuecat bar code reader into URLs. The television technology was launched on NBC during its "Must See TV" programming and used a computer sound card to decode an audible barcode and collect or launch a web site.
[edit] Commercial failure
The CueCat concept was a commercial failure. It also received the dubious distinction as one of "The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time" according to PCWorld Magazine. The CueCat's critics said the device was ultimately of little use: wrote Jeff Salkowski of the Chicago Tribune, "You have to wonder about a business plan based on the notion that people want to interact with a soda can," while Debbie Barham of the Evening Standard quipped that the CueCat "fails to solve a problem which never existed."
The CueCat device was controversial, initially because of privacy concerns.[2][3] Each CueCat has a unique serial number, and users suspected that Digital Convergence could compile a database of all barcodes scanned by a given user and connect it to the user's name and address. For this reason, and because the demographic market targeted by Digital Convergence was unusually tech-savvy, numerous web sites arose detailing instructions for "declawing" the CueCat — blocking or encrypting the data it sent to Digital Convergence. The site digitaldemographics.com was also registered through Digital Convergence, which also gave credence to privacy concerns about the use of data.
The company's response to these hacks was to assert that users did not own the devices and had no right to modify or reverse engineer them. Threats of legal action against the hackers swiftly brought on more controversy and criticism. The company's licensing agreement was changed several times, adding explicit restrictions, apparently in response to hacker activity. Hackers argued that the changes did not apply retroactively to devices that had been purchased under older versions of the license, and that the thousands of users who received unsolicited CueCats in the mail had not agreed to nor were legally bound by the license.
[edit] Security breach
In September 2000, security watchdog website Securitywatch.com notified Digital Convergence of a security vulnerability on the Digital Convergence website that exposed private information about CueCat users. Digital Convergence immediately shut down that part of their website, and their investigation concluded that approximately 140,000 CueCat users who had registered their CueCat were exposed to a breach that revealed their name, email address, age range, gender and zip code.
Digital Convergence responded to this security breach by sending an email to those affected by the incident claiming that it was correcting this problem and would be offering them a $10 gift certificate to Radio Shack.
[edit] Website
Although Digital Convergence and the CueCat system are generally assumed to be defunct, the Digital Convergence website remained as a ghost site through 2004. Previously, the website contained the following statement:
The dream was to connect items in the physical world to the Internet, automatically. In January that dream hit a bump in the road and the servers were taken offline. They will scan again... If you have a Cue Cat, save it. The patents and technology created by Digital Convergence will again be available for business and consumer use.
In June 2005, a liquidator offered two million CueCats for sale at $0.30 each (in quantities of 500,000 or more).[4]
*** Current usage***
Some Mac users are using "declawed" CueCats with the movie, book and music catalog program Delicious Library.[5] Mac users can also use the CueCat with the Pedia (Bookpedia, CDpedia, DVDpedia, Gamepedia) line of applications from Bruji. CueCats are also supported by the Alexandria book collection manager, LibraryThing and other online book or DVD catalogue sites. Readerware[6] , another book/audio/video cataloging program for Windows, Mac, and Linux also supports the CueCat, while several applications offered by Collectorz.com[7] interface with the CueCat (Collectorz.com sells CueCats as well).
USB CueCat 5 Minute How To Declaw your CueCat
This applies to the USB version of the CueCat, which works on PC's as well as Mac's. The only true difference between the PS2 and USB CueCats is that the USB versions enter into a "sleep mode" when not being used, this takes several minutes. You will note that the light in its nose will shut off, flashing quickly about once a second. If it senses a reflection of its own pulse during this time (e.g. from holding the nose to paper, as if to scan a barcode) it will "wake up" and be ready to scan again.
The USB CueCat Declaw Process
This is a very simple process and starts by removing the 2 screws at the bottom of the Cuecat. Open the case and unplug the cable to
gain a better view of the main IC.
To remove encryption: Find the chip marked HMS91C7316 ( on the bottom side of the CueCat The cable leads ran accross its face. )
and carefully cut/pry/break pin 5 to disconnect it from the board. If you are unfamiliar with pin numberings, use the diagram below.
16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9
| | | | | | | |
----------------------
| K130A033 |
| HMS91C7316 |
|o 0027 |
----------------------
| | | | | | | |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The blue dot represents a small circular dimple you should see on the top of the chip, which indicates Pin 1. Simply count counter-clockwise around the chip from Pin 1 for the numbers of all the other pins. Pin 5 is marked in red. Now the USB CueCat will output plain, unencrypted barcode data. See the picture below..
Once completed, just plug the cable back in, recover and install the two screws.
Also remember to enable USB in your BIOS, if it isn't already. If the :Cat is plugged in but doesn't ever light up (even at the BIOS screen) this is the most likely culprit.
Back to home pagewqQ~~_35.JPG)
) 
Print
Report item
wqQ~~_12.JPG)
and your 
