What are the advantages and disadvantages of bar code and magnetic stripe equipment?
Bar code is a more simple technology. This makes bar code systems more economical to operate over the life of the equipment. Bar code systems are well suited for exit cashiering systems. Magnetic stripe equipment is more complex but it is also more flexible. Unlike a bar code, which cannot be altered after it is printed, a magnetic stripe ticket can be re-coded a number of times. This makes magnetic stripe technology ideally suited for central cashiering or “time lag” systems. In a system using magnetic stripe tickets, individual components such as ticket machines and pay stations can operate independently without need for interconnections eliminating the need for network connections in areas where it may not be practical to implement this.
