Tag Archives: QrCodes

Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything (video)

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Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything

Technologies like NFC, RFID and QR codes are quickly becoming a normal part of everyday life, and now a group from Carnegie Mellon University has a fresh take on close-quarters data it calls acoustic barcodes. It involves physically etching a barcode-like pattern onto almost any surface, so it produces sound when something's dragged across it -- a fingernail, for example. A computer is then fed that sound through a microphone, recognizes the waveform and executes a command based on it. By altering the space between the grooves, it's possible to create endless unique identifiers that are associated with different actions.

It's easy to see how smartphones could take advantage of this -- not that we recommend dragging your new iPhone over ridged surfaces -- but unlike the technologies mentioned earlier, not all potential applications envisage a personal reading device. Dot barcodes around an area, install the sound processing hardware on site, and you've got yourself an interactive space primed for breaking freshly manicured nails. We're pretty impressed by the simplicity of the concept, and the team does a good job of presenting scenarios for implementing it, which you can see in the video below. And, if you'd like to learn a little more about the idea or delve into the full academic paper, the source links await you.

[Thanks, Julia]

Continue reading Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything (video)

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Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hack a Day  |  sourceChris Harrison (1), (2) (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping

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Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping

Well, this one should give parents with ever-present ankle-biters reason to celebrate. Starting Sunday, October 14th, Target will make a special in-store area available highlighting 20 of the most sought-after toys -- all tagged with QR codes for one-stop, secret mobile shopping. The initiative is being targeted at consumers (read: frazzled Moms and Dads) who need to conduct their frenzied gift-buying without the prying eyes of curious children. You'll have to install the company's app to scan the codes and opt-in for the free shipping, but it's really no more complicated than that. All told, it's an added bit of convenience that should relieve some of that mad holiday stress, but it's definitely bad news for the impulse buyer. You can check out the PR after the break for the full list of included products.

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Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New ‘nano-code’ could help fight banknote forgery by embedding invisible QR-style ciphers

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New 'nano-code' could help fight banknote forgery by embedding invisible QR-style ciphers

We've all seen (and probably used) QR codes at some point. And, handy as they are for quick linking to apps, or value added content etc, there's usually not much else going on. Unless you're one of the team at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, that is, who have created a tiny version of the quadrilateral-codes that could be used to spot counterfeit money. The invention uses nanoparticles combined with blue and green fluorescent ink, and can be sprayed onto surfaces such as glass, plastic film, or of course, pictures of American presidents. The nano-code remains invisible until placed under a near-infrared laser, making it ideal for helping spot legit bank notes. The creators say they have done significant wear tests, which suggest that it's durable, but they also accept that eventually criminal technology could eventually catch up, in the constant cat and mouse game between mandated money producers and forgers. Whether there'd be links to the Benjamin Franklin Wiki page is unclear.

Continue reading New 'nano-code' could help fight banknote forgery by embedding invisible QR-style ciphers

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New 'nano-code' could help fight banknote forgery by embedding invisible QR-style ciphers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: World’s largest QR code is a Canadian maize maze

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Visualized World's largest QR code is a Canadian maize maze

And why wouldn't it be? That's how the Kraay family of Lacombe, Alberta, Canada gets down, as evidenced by the family's past 13 years of elaborate corn maze designs -- from a logo of the Edmonton Oilers to a 25th anniversary commemoration of Rick Hansen's "Man in Motion" tour. Said QR code sends adventurous scanners to a website for the Kraay's family farm website. The code also got the Kraays into the Guinness Book of World Records for "World's Largest QR Code," which was really what drove this whole project. At approximately 29,000 meters (1.1 square miles), that's quite a bit of carefully crafted corn designing. It's certainly more elaborate than the previously claimed record holder, and a lot more official.

"It was something that we didn't think would happen. There were a lot of little things we had to do and Guinness is pretty picky with how you collect your evidence. We were a little bit on edge on whether it would come through so we were very relieved and very excited," Rachel Kraay told CTV News about the project. To verify that the code works, the Kraays had to commission a helicopter to fly them over their own farm, allowing them to scan it while hovering hundreds of feet above. And then, at the end of last week, the Guinness folks sent over a package certifying the bizarre world record. "They didn't even call. I just went to the door and there was a large package and inside was the certificate and a letter. I guess that's how they do it."

[Image credit: Facebook]

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Visualized: World's largest QR code is a Canadian maize maze originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Digital Journal  |  sourceCTV News  | Email this | Comments

LevelUp unveils payment docks that take both NFC and QR codes, leave out the guesswork

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LevelUp unveils payment docks that take both NFC and QR codes, leave out the guesswork

Most stores accepting mobile payments usually have to take just one format, whether it's Google Wallet, Square or another flavor that you probably can't use. LevelUp is convinced you shouldn't have to choose platforms: it just revealed a new payment dock that will recognize both the company's existing QR code system as well as NFC. It's much easier sight on the eyes than typical NFC terminals, to boot. Just don't expect a one-for-one recreation of systems like Google Wallet or Isis. Rather than expose your banking details by holding them in a chip, LevelUp's NFC is just used to move the transaction along -- if it's used to get things started, shoppers can either switch to a QR code or complete the transaction with a second tap. The company is mostly planning to replace its existing payment points across the US with the NFC-aware models. Bluetooth 4.0 is an option for the future, however, which could make LevelUp even more of a Swiss Army Knife for the world of mobile commerce.

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LevelUp unveils payment docks that take both NFC and QR codes, leave out the guesswork originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGigaOM  | Email this | Comments

Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR codes, NFC and stickers

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Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR Codes, NFC and stickers

Strangely, the Austrian city of Klagenfurt doesn't have a public library, even though it hosts the Festival of German-Language Literature. However, an initiative dubbed Project Ingeborg is turning the municipality into a book repository of sorts with 70 QR code and NFC chip-equipped stickers. Plastered throughout town, they direct users to web pages where they can download public domain works, largely from Project Gutenberg. Oftentimes, e-books will be located in relevant locations -- so you'll be sure to find Arthur Schnitzler's The Killer near the police station, for example. Come August, the team behind the effort will partner with local talent to distribute books, music and other digital content too. In an effort to build a stronger bond to the location, the organizers have prevented search engines from indexing the links, so you'll have to visit Klagenfurt to access the curated goods. If you'd like to turn your city into a library, the group hopes to release instructions for replicating their system soon.

[Thanks, Michael]

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Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR codes, NFC and stickers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePingeb (translated)  | Email this | Comments

QR codes get gussied up in ‘Beautiful Traps,’ become art (video)

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QR codes get gussied up in 'Beautiful Traps,' become art (video)

Louis Vuitton QR codes not your thing? Leave it up to Yiying Lu -- illustrator of the infamous "fail whale" -- to make QR codes presentable enough to bring home and show the family. As part of an art project called Beautiful Traps, Lu hand painted codes into portaits featuring carnivorous plants. The codes aren't just for show -- scanning them pulls up a video of the painting process, handily viewable on your mobile device of choice. Roll past the break for a timelapse video of their creation.

Continue reading QR codes get gussied up in 'Beautiful Traps,' become art (video)

QR codes get gussied up in 'Beautiful Traps,' become art (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYiying Lu  | Email this | Comments

Student’s push to make Raleigh more walkable relies on homemade signs and QR codes

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Guerilla urbanism campaign walks the walk in Raleigh with QR code signs
Walking is apparently underrated. So University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student Matt Tomasulo decided to engage in some "guerilla urbanism" in January with fellow fans of bipedal activity, posting 27 signs at three Raleigh, NC intersections as part of the "Walk Raleigh" project. The cardboard and vinyl signs contained snippets about how many minutes it would take to walk to must-see destinations like Raleigh City Cemetery, as well as QR codes for downloading directions. Like the activity it promotes, Tomasulo says the idea behind the project is simple: It's OK to walk. Apparently, Tomasulo and his buddies did such a great job with the signs that it took the sharp folks at the city government a month to catch on and take the stuff down. The city has since walked back its opposition to the signs, however, and put them back up as part of a 90-day pilot project. In the meantime, Walk Raleigh has turned into a Walk [Your City] Kickstarter campaign to put your wallet where your feet are.

Student's push to make Raleigh more walkable relies on homemade signs and QR codes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceAP (Yahoo)  | Email this | Comments