[5.5 Barcode Scanner] Camera Integration (Mobile)

[fIyingPhoenix]

Milestone: Milestone 5: Infrastructure & Tools
Category: 5.5 Barcode Scanner
Task: Implement camera functionality in the mobile app to scan barcodes for food items.

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Description

This task involves integrating camera functionality into the mobile app, allowing users to scan barcodes of food items. Upon scanning, the app will look up the food item in the database (e.g., OpenFoodFacts or another food database) and fetch the relevant data, such as name, calories, macronutrients, and other nutrition information.

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Subtasks:

• Set up camera functionality:
  • Integrate camera support for mobile devices using a cross-platform solution (e.g., Xamarin Essentials or MAUI)
  • Handle permission requests for accessing the camera
  • Implement the UI for the camera scan (e.g., a button to open the camera, a scan result screen)
• Barcode scanning logic:
  • Implement barcode scanning using a barcode scanner library (e.g., ZXing.Net or a similar library for MAUI)
  • Ensure the app can recognize different barcode formats (e.g., UPC, EAN, QR codes)
• Food lookup after scan:
  • Connect the app to an external API or local database (e.g., OpenFoodFacts) to look up the scanned food item
  • Display the food item’s name, calories, and macronutrients
  • Allow users to manually edit or confirm details if the food item is not found
• Store scanned items:
  • After a successful scan, allow the user to add the food item to their daily meal log
  • Store the scanned food item and its details in the local database or sync with the backend
• User interface:
  • Design a simple and intuitive UI for barcode scanning
  • Provide feedback if the scan is successful or if no match is found in the database
  • Display an error message if the scan fails (e.g., unclear barcode, camera issue)
• Testing:
  • Test barcode scanning on various mobile devices (iOS, Android)
  • Ensure that the camera works correctly in different lighting conditions
  • Verify that food lookup results are accurate and relevant
• Documentation:
  • Document the camera scanning functionality and how to use it
  • Include details about the food lookup process and database integration

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Technical Considerations:

• Use Xamarin Essentials or MAUI for cross-platform camera integration
• Use ZXing.Net or another reliable barcode scanning library for mobile
• Ensure the camera functionality works on both Android and iOS devices
• Handle permissions and error cases (e.g., camera not available, scanning failure)
• Integrate with an external database or API (e.g., OpenFoodFacts) for food item lookup

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Acceptance Criteria:

• The mobile app can access the camera and scan barcodes
• The scanned barcode is recognized, and the corresponding food item is fetched from the database/API
• The food item details (name, calories, macros) are displayed to the user
• The user can add the scanned food item to their meal log
• The UI is intuitive and user-friendly
• The functionality is tested on both Android and iOS devices, with successful scans in different conditions