Final answer:
The claim that bar code readers are used to recognize patterns of handwritten or printed characters is false; bar code readers scan bar codes using a laser beam, not handwritten or printed text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Bar code readers are used to recognize patterns of handwritten or printed characters" is false. Bar code readers, also known as bar code scanners, are devices that read and interpret bar codes, which are patterns of parallel lines of varying widths. These codes represent numerical and other data that can be electronically read and processed. Contrary to recognizing patterns of handwritten or printed characters, which is the function of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, bar code readers use a laser beam to scan the bar code and capture the data encoded within these lines. This technology is widely used in retail for inventory tracking, point of sale systems, and there is even research suggesting that a bar code could be linked to virtually anything found on the planet.