2D barcodes & .mobi

May 6th, 2010 | by ViaDataWebAdmin |

In preparing some posters for the CSSE software expo, we were introduced to a fascinating new(ish) technology that is being used across the world to make sharing web addresses and information far easier and to utilize the power of the internet. We thought we’d would share it with you, as it is the first time we’ve have seen it.

All you need is a camera phone. Many of the newer phones include a bar Code scanner but if yours doesn’t, you can download the software to install on your cell phone from //www.neoreader.com. (On the newer Nokia phones you’ll find it under your Tools menu). If you have a Blackberry, you can use the NeoReader but it is a little clunky – you could also try ScanLife from the Blackberry Applications available from the AppWorld store on your phone (free)
Once you have the software on your phone – start up the Barcode scanner and point your phone at the image above. Your phone should home in on the image or simply allow you to take a snapshot of the image. The code will then be scanned… then you can follow the link to a website. You can also save the link, send it to someone else or simply make a note of it. You can put almost anything into these bar codes (eg. messages or phone numbers) and they are easily scannable. Apparently this technology is being used extensively overseas – on bus shelters or train stations to give the time of the next bus or train, on ads to give the location of the nearest outlet, at places of interest to give more information. Clever! With this and the likes of geo-location all sorts of possibilities emerge.