Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling and/or indicating sensor usability. For instance, a system running an application can identify, based on contextual data, a transition in the application from a first mode (in which a sensor is not usable by the application) to a second mode (in which the sensor is usable by the application). The system can transition an output device (e.g., a display) from not outputting a sensor usability indicator (while in the first mode) to outputting the sensor usability indicator (while in the second mode). The system activates the sensor to scan an optical glyph (while in the second mode and while outputting the sensor usability indicator). The system analyzes the optical glyph to optically decode object information from the optical glyph. The object information is associated with an object. The system performs an action associated with the object based on the object information.