1. An apparatus for collecting and processing information bearing indicia (IBI) comprising: a converter for converting light reflected off an IBI into IBI signals representative of the IBI; a first processor configured for running at least one signal process for processing the IBI signals if the IBI is of a first type; and, a second processor configured for running at least one signal process for processing the IBI signals if the IBI is of a second type, wherein the first processor and second processor are configured to run in parallel.