Semacode - Hyperlinks For The Real World

An anonymous reader submits "Semacode is a fascinating concept - it involves encoding a standard network/web URL in visual form (essentially a 2D bar code) that can be displayed in the real world for people to 'read' with semacode-enabled connected devices. The reference platform for now is the Symbian/Series 60 phone platform - specifically, the Nokia 3650 . Semacode also works with the Nokia 6600 and 7650 camera phones."

Comments

Re:CueCat

[Agent Green]

No...this actually has potential NOT to suck, especailly since it's a URL encoded in a 2D, non-proprietary format. It's also a plus that it's not locked up in some bullshit like the CueCat.

I'm curious just how large of a URL it can encode though...but I think this is pretty cool, and could end up being one of the killer apps for camera phones. It's about time something put that technology to good use.

That, and it's a bitch keying in a long-ass URL on a phone keypad. :)

I don't get this...

[JohnsonWax]

Why erect non-human readable signs where they get in the way? What are the benefits of me being able to see this large thing other than to know something is there?

And I know I'll be shouted down for this, but isn't this a much better application for something like RFID? (technical issues, notwithstanding) What's wrong with having this information in the airwaves and some kind of small indicator that a signal is being transmitted?

Re:I don't get this...

[Eponymous Cowboy]

Why erect non-human readable signs where they get in the way? What are the benefits of me being able to see this large thing other than to know something is there?

There are lots of reasons. For example, a bus stop might have a timetable with one of these symbols next to each entry. You'd just hold your phone up to the one you want to check, and it would connect to the proper web page and show you where that bus is on its route and how long until it reaches your location. Instantly. No special buttons to press or codes to enter, and with no expensive hardware needing to be installed at the bus stop.

The idea is that you can use the static, printed data (the barcode) to retrieve dynamic data (the bus location and how long until its arrival)--not just to retrieve more static data. Static data would still be printed, human readable as always, on the sign in the first place.

And, remember, web pages can be interactive, too; you can send information back to the company or organization whose barcode you just scanned through forms on the web page. So you could quickly order a product or service directly to your location.

...isn't this a much better application for something like RFID?

It really comes down to one word: Cost. Ink on paper is essentially free. If you're printing a sign anyway, there's no additional cost to include a barcode. Yes, RFID is cheap, but ink is cheaper.

Re:I don't get this...

[MoonBuggy]

Many phones already have cameras, updating them in order to read a semacode from a picture they just took is a software upgrade. No phones that I know of come with RFID recievers, you would need a hardware replacement to use this meaning it would be even less likely to take off than semacode which is compatible without buying a new and expensive phone.

Useless Marketing

[Fiz Ocelot]

Ok so if I understand the concept correctly: If I have a phone with this ability, it can bring up a web page via wireless connection. Maybe some info about the item, or an advertisement.Great...

What's wrong with just posting information on packages, as it is now? And why should I waste my money, to use my phone to view an extra useless ad?

And unless this all works together "very" quickly (not more than 10 seconds), nobody will even bother. I know I certainly won't.

Can anyone think of anything this can be used for, which can not be accomplished by simply posting the information on a sign, packaging, or normal paper ad? (which are free to use, unlike the phone)

Imagine...

[ParadoxicalPostulate]

Well, the one thing that jumps out in my mind is this.

Imagine you are in a large building on a college campus. You are walking down the hall, and pass by a classroom. The room number is marked in black letters on a plaque, 246. Under the room number is a semacode.

You take out your cellphone, and take a snapshot (read: scan) the semacode. Your cellphone loads up the appropriate URL, giving you information about the room.

Through the website, you find out what the room is used for, who the technicians / professors are using the room, what the class schedule for the room is, when the professor has open office hours, who is responsible for maintenance of the room, what the phone extension in the room is, etc. And you get a bunch of links to follow from there.

All of that information available in an instant.

Of course, there is the issue of the ubiquity of this type of technology, but if it does become very popular, this is a very real accomplishment.

Employ the same type of situation in a museum display, perhaps or art or rocks.

I think it has a pretty amazing potential, but only if it's adopted widescale. If not, then its just one of those cool things that you brag about to your friends, and after that nobody cares.

Why is this a big deal?

[CatGrep]

I really can't see how this is revolutionary.
As has been mentioned this bears some resemblance to the failed CueCat thingy. Also, why would I want to post these 2D barcodes all over the place?

Why not use BlueTooth for this? You get close to a 'beackon' and a little icon appears on your phone, if you choose to click the icon it takes you to the desired URL.

Re:Huh?

[Tony Hoyle]

Not really, you have:

1. (old system). Read text.
2. (new system). Fish phone out of pocket. Switch it on (of not already on. Possibly pull battery out if crashed). Take photograph. Stand around scrolling through symbian menus until you find the 'decode photograph' app. Launch app. App doesn't recognise photograph. Shit. Take another photograph. Repeat.

Re:Real world uses

[Tony Hoyle]

Don't see how it can be faster.

Currently I fire up the phone, select 'taxi', it gives me the number of the nearest one and optionally dials it (it knows where I am, which is how it knows where the nearest taxi/bank/pub/etc. is... heck, you can buy services that track people down via mobile phone now - parents buy it to keep track of their children).

However every taxi I've ever called wants to know my *destination* not just my current location (this is for tracking, and I believe it may also be a legal requirement). There is no way this system can handle that (unless you're proposing having a barcode for every destination in a city).

Solution Looking For A Problem... Again

[nfotxn]

See we can encode urls and network addresses in something we call "text". Text can be written and deciphered by the naked human eye. The majority of human beings are capable of literacy with the correct training. Although some require peripheral devices such as corrective lenses or permanent solutions such as laser surgery.

If you're to take a technologically oriented solution to having to type a url why not just make signage use bluetooth or some such wireless technology to pass the url to these devices?This is just silly Wired magazine style gadgetiering technofetishism to my eyes. Bo-ring!

Re:CueCat

[danila]

Isn't it better to just use a computer-legible font for the URLs? If designed with both human and computer legibility in mind it can provide 100% accuracy when read by the phone and not require a lot of CPU power. The presence of the URL can be indicated either by the standard http:// prefix or by a special icon, by the address itself will be written in plain text. This is thousands of times more compatible and useful.