A system for object and information collection comprises a handheld tool to grab the object. The handheld tool comprises a trigger, a grabber mechanism, and a switch, wherein a user actuates the trigger to pick up an object with the grabber mechanism, and the switch causes transmission of a capture signal to initiate a classification event. A classification application executing on a processor is responsive to receiving the capture signal to capture information associated with the object and assign an object classification to the object based at least in part on the captured information.