Everybody is familiar with the 1 dimensional UPC bar codes that are found on just about every packaged product.
The codes are read at the check out counter. They tell the cash machine what the product is and how much it costs.
These codes have primarily been used as a tool for inventory control, shipping, and quick check outs.
Well, North America will soon be familiar with a handful of new 2D barcodes that are primarily being displayed for public consumption. Using your mobile phone, with the right software you can scan these images with your phone’s camera and get information on that item.
What are they?
Real world hyper-links.
A mobile marketing technology.
Fantastic for marketers hoping to measure the effectiveness of their print campaign.
What can they do?
They can spawn a mobile browser session and take you to a website. It’s often a pain to type in a long URL into your mobile browser. Why not provide a 2-D barcode for your website to ease that pain.
They can spawn a pre-populated SMS message, complete with destination phone number or shortcode and some text in the body.
They can deliver a binary file to your mobile phone. (think graphics, text, or any file supported by the handset). The amount of information a 2D bar code can convey is different for each format.
Initiate a phone call.
GeoSpatial tracking.
Labeling.
Textual information.
Save contact information.
How do they work?
On your mobile phone, start the scanning program. Typically, this will launch your camera. Then just snap a clear shot of the bar code.
The program will decode the image and deliver the information to your handset.
Many 2D bar code formats and readers
There are many providers of 2-d bar codes. Some are proprietary formats, that as a creator, you need to pay to use. All of the code readers are free.
Quick Response code
Open format created in 1994 by Denso-Wave. The most popular 2D code in Japan.
Get the reader here :: http://reader.kaywa.com
Create one at http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ or at http://nfggames.com/system/qrcodegen.php
Cost = free
ShotCode
Created by High Energy Magic
Website – http://www.shotcode.com/
Get the Reader here :: m.shotcode.com or on your PC go here http://www.shotcode.com/download
Cost = 50 pounds/month for 1-10 shotcodes.
Moseycode
Open format. Initially designed for Android platform. Created by Tom Gibara.
Website – http://www.tomgibara.com/android/moseycode/
Create a Moseycode here :: http://www.tomgibara.com/android/moseycode/barcodes
Cost = free
Semacode
Open Data Matrix format created in 1989
Website – http://www.semacode.com
my semacode for retrofitweb.com website -
http://semacode.com/display/tag.html?hide=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.retrofitweb.com&title=RetroFit+Website+Services+-+Semacode+for+website
Create one here = http://semacode.com/tag
Cost =
EZcodes
created by ScanBuy
The ScanLife reader also works with QR and Data Matrix codes.
Website – http://www.scanlife.com/
User Guide – http://www.scanlife.com/images/ScanLife-Client-Application-User-Guide.pdf
Create an EZcode :: You need to register your company fisrt. http://www.scanlife.com/register_company.html
Cost :: ???
ZXing (Zebra Crossing)
Google’s Open Source barcode reader reads QRcode, Data Matrix, and UPC
Google plans to trial QR codes in print ads. They have no plans to develop a new bar code format.
Closing words
This should both thrill and scare marketers and store owners because I can imagine many layers of information being layered onto these codes. Imagine you are in a big box store, you scan an item’s bar code and a layer from ebay or Craig’s list that tells you that the item you have scanned is available through them at 40% of the cost.
Or perhaps you are on a diet, but you have no time or desire to spend the time to figure out what kind of foods you absolutely need to stay away from. Then you would just need to install the latest reader plug-in from Google Health, modified to your personal settings, and then you could get ratings on each item scanned.
The ubiquitous UPC bar code is enough reason to have a wide install base for these code readers. Everything else is just the gravy on top. It’s just a matter of time until someone builds a specialized search engine for the upcoming explosion of these information layers. Really, right now these readers are crude visual pattern recognition programs that work with a limited number of symbologies. Later they will be able to recognize logos, common objects, and eventually places and faces.
June 19th, 2008 - 12:41 pm
Good list, I think you have covered most of the big 2D barcoders. There is a site called Pondering Primate that has a comprehensive list of all things physical hyperlinking.
Also, there is a good article HERE on wikipedia that identifies two hardlinking alternatives to the traditional 2D barcode approach. Notice that neither one of these two sites use any type of 2D barcodes, but they still result in a Physical World Hyperlink connection from your cell phone. Both sites have their origins in the academic world.
January 23rd, 2009 - 10:00 am
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March 1st, 2009 - 1:27 pm
How much information could theoretically be conveyed in these 2-D barcodes? Could you scan 25 (50, 100?) products in a super market and then generate a new bar code which, once read, could relay info on all the products you’d just scanned?
March 3rd, 2009 - 12:57 am
Hi Joe,
You would probably want to store the product list in a database with the customer’s ID then you could spit out a receipt with the 2-D barcode that would link all those products together in a web application.
In a connected world these barcodes don’t need to hold ALL the information, they just need to be able to link to it.