require 'io/console' #waiting for barcode scanner input (keyboard wedge, DATA+CR format) #input = STDIN.noecho(&:gets).chomp input="31P10AM000VUS" case input when '/\A31P/' #barcodes i scan have prefixes, 31P is one of them, 10AM000VUS is lenovo model type.. puts "You've scanned a Machine Type: #{input[3..13]}" end