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The iPhone as Barcode Scanner: A Huge Opportunity

Posted August 24, 2007 1:00 PM by Gregory Ng
Categories: Opinions 

Chalk this up to an idea that I just don’t have the time to pursue on my own. So I decided to post this up here so hopefully Apple or another enterprising company can jump on. The idea is this: Using your iPhone as a Wish List barcode Scanner.

Imagine going to any store in the world, seeing something you like and then telling everyone who matters to you that you want it. Now imagine that instead of having to write down the store, the product name, or color choice, you simply use the camera function in your iPhone, scan the barcode on the item, and it auto-populates to your .mac wish list.

That’s not all. Imagine it marrying your wish list data with the physical locations of the retail store, pulling up the location in the Google map function in your iPhone.

Why stop there? Now imagine the process comes full circle as someone can wire you money through your phone (in theory, while you are still standing in the store) and the money materializes as a picture gift certificate with a barcode that can be scanned by the cashier.

Ok, this idea may be something that a company like Google is already thinking about but I really wish Apple would do it first. Google has always understood the value in customer data and this would be the motherload. Through one device, the iPhone, one could capture buying behavior, wish lists, physical travel trends, and the value of a giving network.

This is an idea that benefits Apple, the retailer, and the iPhone user. But it could also benefit organizations like charities, entertainment venues, even food banks. Imagine being able to walk the aisles of your neighborhood grocery store and instantly credit the local food bank’s account with an item by buying it right in the aisle.

And it doesn’t have to just be about paid content. By matching up your iPhone ID with its built-in data capture device (the camera) you can distribute free content to your mobile device without resorting to Text codes and websites. What about while waiting in line to get into a movie, you can scan a barcode on a movie poster and the trailer downloads to your iPhone for you to watch through the video iPod function? How about walking by a restaurant and scanning a barcode on the door pulling up customer reviews instantly. Or scanning a code in a museum and downloading a walking tour audio clip.

Soon, there won’t just be “Made for iPhone” tags and logos on accessories. It could be found conceivably anywhere. What do you guys think? Good idea?

[Originally published by me here]

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Comments

  1. QRCode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    is what you are asking for.

    Posted by b on August 24, 2007 2:25 PM

  2. Seems like something for the Delicious Monster guys to tackle.  They’ve already written an iPhone app (Lights Out) and have done barcode recognition with Delicious Library.

    The big problem is that the barcodes on products are UPCs.  You’ll need a HUGE database to translate the UPC into a specific product.  Manufacturers actually don’t readily supply these for their products and stores usually have to purchase these databases.

    Long ago someone started a UPC translator web site (can’t recall the URL) but it relied on people entering the information about the product.  Needless to say, it fizzled.

    Posted by Eric on August 24, 2007 3:14 PM

  3. This is a great idea even if it was only used as a lookup for more information or to inventory things.  There are so many uses for it.

    Posted by jdkarr01 on August 24, 2007 3:20 PM

  4. What about scanning the barcode of a product in the shop, and get links to third party product information as well as price comparison with other shops, etc.

    Third party product information could include environmental information (co2 emission equivalents, toxicity, etc), health and nutritional information, user friendlyness, tests and comparisons with other products, etc. All kinds of information which you might want before purchasing, but the shop is’nt interested or capable of giving to you.

    Posted by Dag on August 24, 2007 3:53 PM

  5. CueCat anyone? This would be a risky proposition in this era of privacy concerns.

    Posted by GoCatGo on August 24, 2007 8:10 PM

  6. This sounds like a great idea and it would work great with Neomedia’s NeoReader.  A reader that not only allows the user to click on barcodes, but can also click on logos, trademarks, slogans, billboards, RFID, QR, 2D, datamatrix, etc.

    This one click allows the user to navigate the physical world in one click. 

    Who will embed this technology?  How many consumers will use it? 

    This is all about the internet of things.  Where are the big players at?

    Posted by Swampthing18 on August 27, 2007 7:21 AM

  7. From my detective work Paperclick / Qode was developed from the Cuecat technology and revamped to work in today’s mobile life style.

    I sounds like this marriage could be life altering for mobile users if Apple works with Neomedia.

    Posted by Diamondback on August 27, 2007 7:29 AM

  8. People in Japan already scan barcodes on a daily basis with the major carriers KDDI, DOCOMO, Softbank embedding 3GVisions barcode reader as standard.

    As far as we’re aware 3GVision is the only vendor in the mobile barcode space with an existing proven deployment and mass uptake in a region.  QR codes can be found everywhere in Japan from produce in the grocery store to tell consumers the history and soil composition of the region in which it was grown, to massive billboards encouraging consumers to enter competitions as well as the usual suspects, magazines business cards and newspapers.

    The issue with UPC barcodes is not they can’t be read by camerphone’s but that unless the phone has a Macro focus lens (close-focus) the UPC barcode blurs to much to be correctly read.  This would then require the retro fit of an external lens or more expensive camera optics. 

    I don’t see the deployment of more expensive macro camera optics occurring as most consumers are not interested in macro focus shots.  As a result what is known as QR or 2D barcodes will become mainstream for camera phone barcode scanning in the west. 

    There are a number of different symbologies out there but our research has shown a “coded” QR or Datamatrix code, that is one that contains only a small amount of information such as a 7 digit number which resolves to a DNS type server for the URL, can be read fine by cameras with optics as low a 0.8mpx and that proprietary symbols are not necessary or any better for western phones as many claim.

    2-D barcodes can revolutionize the way consumers interact with objects in the real world and open up a whole new economy of m-commerce.  Unfortunately with US carriers locking down API access to 3rd party applications on handsets unless OEM and a reluctance for them to incorporate the technology within the foreseeable future, we feel the USA may be a long way off it’s European counterparts. 

    In France the carriers have already banded together to establish a standard for 2D code scanning including the protocols and symbology to be used (flashcode=datamatrix). 

    There is alot of noise in this space but it is doubtful Apple will include a barcode reader in the iPhone unless it will read UPC codes which will require more expensive optics as mentioned before.

    Even if apple does decide to go down this path, it is highly likely they will create their own reader.

    Posted by Antony on September 2, 2007 7:35 PM

  9. Again, what if the reader was already developed for all codes, 1D and 2D, QR and data matrix, and, could link to physical world objects from the keywords, logo, trademarks, slogans, RFID, etc.

    What if the reader had more options for consumers that just 2D and QR codes?

    What if I was able to say it into the reader?

    IMO, Sleeping giants need to wake up.

    Posted by Swampthing18 on September 3, 2007 12:05 PM

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    Posted by amoxil on November 11, 2007 2:58 AM

  12. Goddamnit

    You stole my idea of being a multimilionare

    This would be the biggest thing since the google

    Posted by bram on November 21, 2007 4:05 AM

  13. I would look to see that neomedia “qode” scanner on my iphone. That would be so cool. The possiblities would be endless.

    Neomedia get your qode application and the iPhone!

    Posted by Johnny on November 23, 2007 7:46 PM

  14. Completely agreed. I believe that not only would UPC code be useful, but also other data coded in QRCode. That said, URLs, links, concise text, and other such things would be an extension of the technology, rather than just a typical accommodation.

    Posted by Victor N. on February 4, 2008 3:49 PM

  15. Keep an eye on the Mobile Codes Consortium (MC2).

    http://www.mobilecodes.org

    http://www.neoreader.com

    Posted by streetstylz on February 4, 2008 8:05 PM

  16. Use this site to generate barcode links for your own site:

    http://www.barcodelink.net/

    Posted by Samirjoni on April 1, 2008 7:52 AM

  17. You can generate your own barcode at http://www.neoreader.com

    Posted by Swampthing on April 1, 2008 10:38 AM

  18. Great article, well written Phentermine Pills

    Posted by George on May 27, 2008 12:41 PM

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