bcWebcam - 2D codes and your PC

Whilst 2D barcodes is mostly targeted at mobile tagging with your camera enabled phone the technology is equally useful for webcams.

bcWebcam is a piece of freeware that allows you to use your existing webcam to read many barcode standards.

This is ideal for home and small businesses and if the technology is adopted by Government to enhance form processing the forms can be processed with little to no additional cost.

There is a software development kit available that allows a developer to integrate the camera output with an application.  This could be automating a user interface or creating an XML integration point.

Radial Codes

Radial codes are an evolution of the matrix code where the data is stored in relation to a radial axis from the centre of the circular form used for the code.  Forms of radial codes inlcude:

• ShotCode - a circular code designed at Cambridge University in 1999.
• MaxiCode - a hexagonal grid of dots arranged in concentric circles around a "Target", created and used by United Parcel Service

Matrix Codes

The most established form is the matrix code that uses vertical and horizontal grid of pixels to encode data.  Forms of matrix codes inlcude:

• QR Code - Quick Response codes, the most successful form of matrix code widely adoptied in Japan.
• PDF417 - a stacked barcode commonly used by airlines for eTicket presentation.
• DataMatrix - a similar form to QR Code widely used in USA.

Webcam Mode

The current uptake of 2D barcodes is the mobile tagging by using a camera in a mobile phone to read a barcode.  This is an applied use of this underused technology but 2D barcodes can also be read by webcams which increase the adoption points and opportunities for low cost barcode integrations within today's business models.

Push and Pull modes, either with a mobile or webcam, can be applied to many industry scenarios.

Pull Mode

The pull mode differs in that the publisher typically encodes a webiste URL code or initiate an SMS or phone call.  This requires that the customer connects to the mobile telephone network in some way to pull further information from the publisher.

Both Pull Mode and Push Mode can also be used with a webcam.

Push Mode

The push mode is where the publisher pushes the information to the subscriber in the barcode itself.  This mode of operation allows a customer with a camera equipped phone and code reader to translate the coded data into information in a closed environment.  This is because unlike 1D barcodes, database access is not required for decoding as the data travles with the item.

This is subtly different to Pull Mode.

Basic Characteristics

Our research has identified two main forms of 2D barcodes - Matrix Codes and Radial (Polar Coordinate) Codes.

• Matrix Codes
• Radial Codes

One of the key differentiators for the use of 2D barcodes is the data capacity they offer.  Due to the use of both horizontal and vertical axes, the data can be stored in a much smaller area when compared to traditional barcodes, like those used in shops.  The table shows potential data capacity and usage options for five of the main symbologies.

The actual data capacity of a 2D barcode is dependent on a number of factors.  These include the media choice, the final size of the presentation allowing for the resolution of the dots used in the printing process (Appendix D) and the level of error correction required (Appendix E).

With the higher data capacities available in 2D barcodes, a number of different types of message can be encoded in the barcode.  This allows for a wide range of potential uses, though the intepretation of the message is generally dependent on the capabilities of the reader.

The different message types allow for different modes of operation for publishers and subscribers of 2D barcodes.  These are a choice of a push mode or a pull mode.

Online Report Contents

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Why use 2D barcodes?
  
• Basic Characteristics
• Matrix Codes
  
• Radial Codes
  
• Inustries and Uses
• Business to Business (B2B)
  
• Business to Consumer (B2C)
  
• Consumer to Business (C2B)
  
• Consumer to Consumer (C2C)
  
• E-Government (eGov)
  
• Issues and Barriers
• Usability
  
• Equity
  
• Security
  
• Cost
  
• Force Field Analysis
  
• Conclusion
• Appendix A - QR Codes in Japan
• Appendix B - Using a QR Code Reader
• Appendix C - 2D Code Generation and Code Reader Resources
• Appendix D - Calculating Code Size and Capacity
• Appendix E - First Read Reliability

Why use 2D Barcodes?

2D barcodes have a number of attributes that make them an attractive technology for exchanging digital information.  In essence, they allow a digital message to be captured in a visible format that is recognisable.  The captured message can then be decoded easily and reliably.

Introduction

This online report discusses the potential use of 2-Dimensional (2D) Barcodes within New Zealand.  This is an applied use of a common piece of technology, the mobile phone camera, that takes data in the form of a binary image and turns it into information.

One version of this application has been in active use in Japan sunce 1995 and has evolved from a way of tracking car parts to mobile tagging where information is now quickly and easily retrieved by most current Japanese mobile phone (Appendix A).

The report will outline the basic characteristics of this evolution of tradtional barcodes, the types of industries and ways that these industries could use 2D barcodes and finally any issues and barriers to the form adoption of this technology.

The barcode has evolved from the one dimensional form widely adopted in the retail industry since the 1950's to the current forms of 2D barcodes now in circulation and being applied to diverse industries outside of retail.  This evolution has resulted in higher data capacity and greater flexibility of use, all in a smaller presentation area.

Why use 2D Barcodes?

Welcome

This blog is one of the outcomes of the group LISA project for MMBA 507 Information Systems for Managers, at Victoria University of Wellington.

Hopefully it will remain alive long after the submission of the report and continue to be active after the lights have been turned off on the presentation to the rest of the intake.

Start reading the online report.