I'd like to do this today:
Automate inventory control.
I have a Access database for this, it is reliant on photos for often bags of assorted items. Later get code to fetch photos since Google drive no longer syncs with photos, but that's VBA..
My existing process is fill a bag or box with stuff, pour it back out onto grey sheet, photograph stuff along with serialized label, replace it into container, label container, stow and note location. Later on PC I would import by choosing an image of label, then I had buttons to add subsequent images of stuff. OCR doesn't work in Access. So I'd type tag#, select location from drop-downs, and enter other data, often referring to photos displayed in form. I then hit next, repeat.
Now, I use barcodes on those labels but never implemented a way to read them. I could continue to photograph the labels or maybe I could use a laser and led to pick up the barcode? Then I could scan barcode, photo stuff, ESP will upload to SQL, and create links for images, then send confirmation back to unit. I could scan location, individual items, owners, upcs.
It would be a wand like Libraries had back in 80s, unless it was dark, then it may read at distance.
Amazon has that system, scan ASIN, stow, scan location tag.
I do not have a red photoled, I have an ir one in a prox sensor somewhere, but it is sens to ir, I don't have ir laser. I have red lasers and lots of leds except IR.
My understanding is a red LED is somewhat sensitive to orange light, a orange sens to yellow, etc. The output is low, may need amplified in differential to a similar LED not facing label. I'd put the LED in a barrel parallel to laser. The barcode would have to be wide enough for beam to intersperse the bars, conversely the laser could be focused to a near point. Run wires to esp32, use touch pads and 16x2 LCD, speaker, for interface. Idea use esp32cam for photos instead of mobile phone
How do I start?