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Alternative To QR Code Uses NFC and Cheap Rectennas

Posted by timothy on from the which-infrastructure-do-you-prefer? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The BBC reports researchers in Korea have developed a technology that can be used as a viable alternative to QR codes. Made of plastic and electronic ink, the rectennas cost less than one penny each to produce and use the NFC standards for wireless radio communication to devices. They are seen as a cheap, easy-to-print and environmentally friendly way to overcome the limitations and inconvenience of QR codes, the usage of which has greatly increased in the last few years."

32 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Rectannas by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rectannas is just not an appealing word...

    1. Re:Rectannas by stevegee58 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Reminds me of Cartman's anal probe.

    2. Re:Rectannas by arielCo · · Score: 4, Informative
      Quoth the 2nd link in TFS (I know, I'm relatively new here):

      A rectenna is a rectifying antenna, a special type of antenna that is used to convert microwave energy into direct current electricity.

      (Boldface in the original)

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    3. Re:Rectannas by Cute+Fuzzy+Bunny · · Score: 3, Funny

      Quoth the 2nd link in TFS (I know, I'm relatively new here):

      A rectenna is a rectifying antenna, a special type of antenna that is used to convert microwave energy into direct current electricity.

      (Boldface in the original)

      Absolutely 100% incorrect. This is a rectal antenna. I knew the cell phone companies would find a way to stick it up our butts eventually.

    4. Re:Rectannas by Havenwar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Short for Quantum Rectal Code.

      It's complicated. All about qubits, existing in two states at once, and giant rectennas in uncomfortable places.

  2. Missing the point? by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The entire point of a QR-Code is that it can be placed where-ever anything visual can be placed. You can put a QR code on a billboard, on a streetsign, on a television image, in a newspaper, on a bus ad...

    --
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    1. Re:Missing the point? by Grantbridge · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The great thing about text is you can put it anywhere anything visual can be placed! You can but a tinyurl.com/acmeadd on a billboard, on a streetsign, on a television image.... (And its still quicker to type than to get the camera all lined up to QR code something you pass on a bus.)

    2. Re:Missing the point? by siddesu · · Score: 5, Insightful

      When I hear "antenna" and "NFC" I can't help but think that QR has one important "shortcomming" -- it can only get into my phone if I want it to. Now, imagine the marketing potential for something that can be read without user interaction by a helpful app and you'll see the appeal ...

    3. Re:Missing the point? by camperdave · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The entire point of a QR-Code is that it can be placed where-ever anything visual can be placed. You can put a QR code on a billboard, on a streetsign, on a television image, in a newspaper, on a bus ad...

      The entire problem of a QR-Code is that it must placed where anything else visual could be placed. You can put a QR code on a billboard, on a streetsign, on a television image, in a newspaper, on a bus ad... and there's that much less space for the ad art itself.

      These rectennas can be covered by advertisement without impairing their function.

      --
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    4. Re:Missing the point? by blind+biker · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And its still quicker to type than to get the camera all lined up to QR code something you pass on a bus

      Actually no, it's not quicker.just typing "tinyurl.com" takes more time than to acquire a QR code.Unless you use a catastrophically inefficient app/UI for the QR.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    5. Re:Missing the point? by tofubeer · · Score: 2

      Which is why you should always put the URL with the QR code. Even better - put an NFC tag behind the QR code as well and all bases are covered.

    6. Re:Missing the point? by PPH · · Score: 3, Funny

      These rectennas can be covered by advertisement without impairing their function.

      NFC == Near Field Communications.

      You're going to look pretty silly climbing up onto that billboard with your cellphone.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    7. Re:Missing the point? by fbobraga · · Score: 2

      what a memory! 4,296 characters!

    8. Re:Missing the point? by AdrianKemp · · Score: 2

      Your teenage brother can type things faster than he can read (hint: no)? Because if not, he may get the tinyurl.com out quickly, but the rest he still has to transcribe.

      Long story short: stop being a dumbass.

    9. Re:Missing the point? by meerling · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I can't afford a smartphone, or more accurately, I can't afford the mandatory increased phone bill due to the requirement to get a data plan to go with it.

    10. Re:Missing the point? by PKFC · · Score: 2

      You can even put it in a corn maze! :P
      http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/07/27/edmonton-video-qr-code-corn-maze.html

    11. Re:Missing the point? by jbengt · · Score: 3, Insightful
      How does my self-printed airline ticket/boarding pass match up to your "Points of failure for a QR code"

      Must know what a QR code is.

      I had no need to know, just printed from the airlines web page, had no idea it was called a QR code.

      Must have a smartphone

      Nope

      Must have a QR reader app

      No, though the airlines and the TSA needed to be able to read the QR code, it was probably not an 'app'.

      Must be close enough to scan code

      True, I guess, but the TSA agent and the flight attendants were close enough when I handed them the boarding pass.

      Must be quick enough to leap of the sofa and scan TV (for QR codes in ads

      No, just had to find the 'Print' button in the confirmation page.

    12. Re:Missing the point? by brillow · · Score: 2

      It is dumb to put a QR code on a billboard.

      What gets me is people don't use URL shorteners, and you end up with QR codes which no one can scan in. I have a new phone with a great camera and I can't scan half the codes I see in print magazines because the dots are too tiny to even resolve in print.

      QR codes would be better if the people who put them on things actually used them.

      And yeah, they are better than NFC in some cases. Few technologies are wholly superior to the ones they are purported to replace. That's why people still buy typewriters. You know what the easiest way to print on a label or envelope is? With a typewriter.

    13. Re:Missing the point? by Dayze!Confused · · Score: 2

      ... cell phones with "notes" functions that allow them to take down quick reminders...

      I actually have found this to be the thing that is lacking on my Android phone. Of all the default applications that are available, not a single notepad. I've tried many different ones from the market, but they all have their quirks and I can't seem to find something that is just easy to drop in a line of text, automatically save, and later allow me to easily transfer it to my computer.

      --
      "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." [Thomas Jefferson]
    14. Re:Missing the point? by AdrianKemp · · Score: 2

      If only that applied to the first comment.

      Being a dumbass is being a dumbass... Pretending you didn't mean it later just makes it look even worse.

    15. Re:Missing the point? by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      The problem with QR codes is you don't know what you're gonna get until you scan it. It could potentially be bad. (Not even viruses or buffer overflows -- could just be something that translates to goatse.cx.)

      No that's the problem with TinyURLs. The QR code readers I have used provide you the output of the code and give you the option to follow it. That way before my phone does anything I know if it's just some text, a link to a website, a link to a market app, an email address.

      What you describe is not a problem with QR codes but a problem in a specific implementation of a QR Code reader.

  3. Environmentally friendly? by vlm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They are seen as a ... environmentally friendly way to overcome the limitations and inconvenience of QR codes...

    I'm mystified how that works. Its not like QR codes are inherently toxic by shape, like prions, nanoparticles, or asbestos fibers.

    The only QR code I've ever used for a "real" purpose is holding my phone up to the screen to scan a google authenticator QR code. I'm not sure how that would translate to a NFC solution like this... have to print out on a 3-d printer or something?

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    1. Re:Environmentally friendly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      I'm assuming environmentally friendly vs metal/semiconductor antennas on existing NFC devices, not as compared to QR codes which are clearly very env. friendly.

    2. Re:Environmentally friendly? by cpu6502 · · Score: 2

      The tiny antennas are supposedly "environmentally friendly" because they use very few rare earths & broadcast only a few nanowatts of power. Of course the best thing you can do for the environment is not have any antenna gobbling-up any power at all.

      --
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    3. Re:Environmentally friendly? by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Of course the best thing you can do for the environment is not have any antenna gobbling-up any power at all.

      What? Are you crazy! This is technology! We must embrace it because it's new and hip and the next best thing since sliced bread so you can be notified of the newest whiz-bang piece of technology which came out three seconds ago.

      If you're not connected every second of every day, with the ability to instantly respond, you're not living life to the fullest. How are businesses supposed to notify you of their latest offerings if you're not connected?

      Luddite.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  4. limitations and inconvenience of QR codes by mwvdlee · · Score: 2

    limitations and inconvenience of QR codes

    Which are what exactly?
    The only limit I can imagine is the amount of data. Since they typically only store a URL, this is hardly an issue.
    And how does this "Rectenna" relate to RFID?

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    1. Re:limitations and inconvenience of QR codes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      1. Consumer must actively perform a task (waking up phone and pointing the camera at QR code) to attain product advertisement.
      2. Space limits; QR code can only go to URL, which may not be accessible depending on network congestion, losing delicious, delicious advertising opportunities.
      3. Consumer can actually, heaven forbid, refuse to scan QR code (NOTE: legal team is working on making this degenerate activity unconstitutional, progress is slow).
      4. QR codes make it difficult to take control of our advertising devices from consumers, depriving us of our tasty, luscious advertising opportunities... mmmm... advertising... *pause to wipe drool from face*

      Oh, I'm sorry. Did you think QR codes were made for YOU? Wow. Such naivete! That's hilarious! Now get back to consuming, drone! You wouldn't want us to report you as a malfunctioning currency transfer conduit, would you?

    2. Re:limitations and inconvenience of QR codes by Local+ID10T · · Score: 2

      Gonna call FUD here.

      I googled this and found several counties using QR codes as part of the restaurant health ratings, however; none of them use it as a replacement for the existing information. All (of the ones that google could find a link to) use it as an augmentation -it provides a direct link to the detailed inspection report for the location in question... no additional searching required. The basic information (grade, date, location, owner, inspector, etc.) is still stuck on the wall in front of you.

      They might be easy to produce from the company's perspective but too much work for me unless I really, really cared about that product.

      That is a hell of a line to follow up a comment of food safety with.

      --
      "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
  5. Re:Is it Cheaper? Easier? by 3dr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No kidding. The summary quoted(?) this nugget: "...to overcome the limitations and inconvenience of QR codes, whose usage has greatly increased in the last few years."

    I'd say that the reason usage QR codes has greatly increased in the last few years is because they are not so limited or inconvenient as the article asserts. The QR code may contain several types of information, but in a 2D bit array, you are inherently limited. QR codes are not a high-bandwidth transport, but even if all they contain is a vcard or URL, the URL is the gateway to larger content.

    I like QR codes because they are inherently opt-in. Screw the NFC based ad network!

  6. Rectenna == rfid tag by CKW · · Score: 2

    So... reading up on this stuff... it's *very* clear that what they are talking about is an RFID tag.

    Yay, put rfid tags everywhere and have everyone tap their phones against them to "receive information". ...and who determines what information is transferred back and forth and what types of exploitable holes are there in their protocol?

    WAIT wait wait. What the researcheres in Korea "discovered" is how to PRINT rfid tags with magnetic inks.

    Jeezus, this is what you get when you cross marketing droids with non-technical reporters in news organizations.

    This whole slashdot article should be deleted. And the BBC should be ashamed, aren't there some PhDs driving cabs that they could hire to cover their technology news stories?

  7. Re: limitations and inconvenience of QR codes? by AdrianKemp · · Score: 2

    You're using a poor scanner then, or a crap phone (that wouldn't have NFC anyways).

    My phone takes maybe half a second to scan a QR code, to the point that I don't even have to actually hold it still... I can *nearly* just wave it in front of the code and have it work, I do have to pause for the half second. By far the limiting time factor is finding the icon and launching the scanner, which would not change with NFC.

  8. Re:Turn NFC off. Problem solved. by spikesahead · · Score: 2

    He's implying that if apple thought it could make a buck off of it, they'd take the option to turn it off out.

    --
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