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Monday, 27 July 2009

BBC NEWS | Technology | Barcode replacement shown off

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8170027.stm
Cool & powerful

9 comments:

  1. "The Bokodes currently consist of an LED, covered with a tiny mask and a lens...Currently, the tags are expensive to produce - around $5 (£3) each. This is, in part, because the early prototypes require a lens and a powered LED.

    However, the researchers believe the technology could be refined so that tags were reflective and require no power."

    Which means they'll only be good if illuminated - not necessarily a drawback as current barcodes need light too, but current barcodes make their location obvious. Having a bunch of people walking around with wide-angle flashlights will get annoying.

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  2. The checkout girls have enough problems getting barcodes to scan right.

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  3. Maybe, but I doubt my cell phone will photograph in the IR. It will also have to discriminate among potentially many bokodes in an image. On the other hand, I doubt my cell phone will photograph out of focus, so the point may be moot.

    On the plus side, I can stand at the head of the aisle and see if any cereal is on sale without having to actually cruise the aisle itself.

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  4. It most certainly will! - Point it at your (IR) TV remote control at your camera and press a button (watch the display)

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  5. You're right, by the way. I meant to come back and 'fess up sooner.

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