Fujitsu develops “invisible” barcode
On September 13, Fujitsu unveiled a new type of “invisible” barcode, called FP (Fine Picture) code, which allows data to be embedded directly into color print photographs. FP code consists of a series of faint yellow lines — said to be invisible to the naked eye — which are overlaid on the photograph during the printing process. Once encoded, a photograph can retain its original quality while serving as an “object hyperlink” to websites that users can access via mobile phone.
To use FP code, users must first download special free software to their camera-equipped phone. Then, when the camera is used to take a picture of an encoded photograph, the code is sent to a server where it is converted into URL data, which is used to connect the user’s mobile phone to the corresponding website. Text, video and audio content can then be delivered directly to the user’s phone.
The first examples of FP code will reportedly begin to appear in Japanese catalogs and magazine advertisements as early as October. If FP code is what Fujitsu claims it is, we may soon bear witness to the disappearance of unsightly barcodes and QR code (2D code) from print material.
One thing, though. If FP code is invisible, how will anyone know where to point their camera?
[Sources: Asahi Shimbun and Fujitsu press release]
[…] Via Pink Tentacle […]
[…] 8 - Fujitsu develops “invisible” barcode “FP code consists of a series of faint yellow lines — said to be invisible to the naked eye — which are overlaid on the photograph during the printing process.” Object hyperlinking on the sly. Nice idea, but, like, why? (tags: Fujitsu graphics pictures concealed invisible scanning device phone mobile barcodes Japan) […]
[…] 8 - Fujitsu develops “invisible” barcode “FP code consists of a series of faint yellow lines — said to be invisible to the naked eye — which are overlaid on the photograph during the printing process.” Object hyperlinking on the sly. Nice idea, but, like, why? (tags: Fujitsu graphics pictures concealed invisible scanning device phone mobile barcodes Japan) […]
[…] Fujitsu are releasing the FP (Fine Picture) code which is an invisible barcode that can be directly embedded into colour print photographs. After the end user had downloaded special software to their mobile they can take a picture which is then sent to a server where it is decoded into a URL Data which then is used to connect the end users mobile to the correspondong website. Comming to Japan this October apparently. Via Pinktentacle […]
[…] En Japn, es muy habitual encontrarse junto a los anuncios, programas o tarjetas de visita, cdigos de barras QR. Estos cdigos de barras bidimensionales, se utilizan para dar informacin o servicios adicionales al usuario, ya que pueden almacenar ms de 7.000 dgitos 3 kilobytes de informacin binaria. La captura de esta informacin se realiza desde el mvil generndose un fichero o bien capturando una url con la que dispondremos de la informacin adicional en internet del producto. […]