New word in communications: barcoding

There is more and more talk on the Internet about the prospects of barcoding as a channel for communications. The popular site readwriteweb.com has explored current and future barcarding opportunities. The translation of this article is brought to the attention of the audience of Habrahabr (translation by Vladimir Shilov, toodoo ).

Until recently, barcodes existed exclusively on paper, but this is far from the only way to use them. The ultimate goal of barcodes is to make them everywhere, from shirts and stickers to television. Let's look at the innovations that are happening in this area today.

To interest you, we will consider the modern capabilities of this technology and its latest trends. So, as this is still a novelty in the USA, this material may be uninteresting to many foreign visitors, however, show a bit of mercy, we are trying to catch up with you!

1. Tag the world with the Wiki

Instead of waiting for someone to provide you with barcodes, you can join Semapedia.org and start making them yourself. The purpose of the resource is to connect the world and Wikipedia articles by putting up barcodes on various objects. The barcode encoded link to an article about the subject on which it is located. The idea is very interesting, however, judging by the map of this resource, it is not particularly popular.

2. Share Contact Information Using Your iPhone / Cameraphone

In Japan, you can find QR codes everywhere, even on business cards, magazines, newspapers, leaflets, posters, stickers, food, websites, message boards, etc. If you own an iPhone, then you can use the iTunes app called QRContact . It allows you to transform your contacts into a barcode. Several free applications to choose from that will allow you to read all this - and now you are already in the code exchange system.

3. Stickers and pillows.

John Young, a barcode freak, told us about his products. He creates stickers, patches and pillows with QR codes that can be found on nerdlepoint.etsy.com .

4. Scan products in the store (maybe such an opportunity will appear soon)

Storexperience.net is thinking of using barcode readers on the phone in stores. The bottom line is that the barcode placed on the product can lead the user to a page that talks about this product, which is quite convenient. So you can find out about the most adequate prices for this product and reviews about it, which will save. Unfortunately, this practice is still poorly distributed in stores, and so far, using it is not very successful, but who knows ...

5. Looking for a home?

John Young (the same one) is currently investing in using barcodes to sell real estate. He believes that potential buyers should be able to read and learn more about the house and do it standing directly opposite him. How about a web page that can be accessed using a barcode? To find out exactly how you can create your own barcode, read on.

6. Put your own reader and make your own codes

Earlier we mentioned NeoReader, but, as many have noticed, its creators do not quite honestly work in this space. There are other readers that you can use. For example: Kaywa Reader , Google's zxing reader for android, i-nigma , http://mobilecodes.nokia.com for Nokia. And others.

You think why you need a code reader if they have nothing to read? Put yourself a generator and start what companies have to pick up. Try the Kaywa QR-code generator , Nokia Mobile Codes , Winksite or Mobile Barcoder .

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If you are not too good at approaching such issues yourself, the chances that the technology itself will come to you are quite large. Previously, CTIA announced the “ Camera-Phone Based Barcode Scanning White Paper ”.

During the presentation, two formats were presented: Data Matrix and EZ Code . CTIA Vice President said that the first devices with this technology will appear in a year.

This seems like great news, but it's not that simple. EZ Code is not read by anything other than ScanLife, it turns out that CTIA advertises Scanbuy's product. Of course, it doesn’t matter at all that Scanbuy was on the team defining the standards, or rather, that they worked on the development of a project to popularize barcodes.

Another format, Data Matrix, is free and standardized. Well, besides the fact that you have to go through the Scanbuy page every time in order to get to the site you need. Data Matrix does not allow you to type a URL, only the code that you will need to enter on the Scanbuy page before going to the site you need.

This is why free barcoding advocates are calling for the support of the QR Code, which is the most popular around the world. All thanks to the open format and free readers.

Many companies are already ready for this technology, by the time when it enters the US market. CEO Ron Feldman of Internet messenger Kwiry tells us that his company plans to introduce support for 2D barcodes when a mass of users with the right tools will be ready to use it. We hope that this is only a matter of time.