Supermarket of the future

A German supermarket is encouraging customers to scan and ring up their shopping using camera phones, and check out without the help of a cashier.

Watch BBC video.

Radio ID tags can play havoc with hospital devices

Electronic interference from RFID tags could have disastrous consequences in hospitals, according to a team of Dutch researchers, switching off ventilators, reseting intravenous drips, and reprogramming pacemakers, they claim. New Scientist reports.

"As RFID and other wireless technologies stream into medicine, the chances of accidental malfunction rise. The FDA has documented at least one such incident, involving an implanted brain stimulator that caused a minor physical tremor in response to a wireless signal.

However, the Dutch researchers and other experts believe more testing and better engineering – rather than a ban or moratorium – will make for safer hospital wards."

McDonald’s new cashless RFID system goes nationwide in Japan

After nearly a year in development, McDonalds Japan has finally released it’s innovative new Kazasu Coupon (Contactless Coupon) loyalty and payment program, beginning with 175 stores and expanding gradually to its 3,800 nationwide stores by 2009.

[via Scout]

Take a Picture of an Ad, Earn a Reward

Two men’s magazines are trying to engage their readers more — by increasing their cellphone bills, reports The New York Times.

"Rolling Stone and Men’s Health are both testing programs in which readers can take cameraphone pictures of icons on ads, then send them to a certain number. In exchange, they’ll receive more information or an offer from the advertiser."

Harrods To Use "Cult' Barcodes

Mobile barcodes are getting another push in the UK, reports The Washington Post.

"Posh department store Harrods is running a campaign thought to be the first from a major British retailer--according to a swooning article in the Times, that notes the use of the codes come 110 years after the store introduced the "world's first moving staircase."

The codes will feature in a series of ads in London and national media to publicise a new exhibition put on by Harrods called Design Icons, which features Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer, and the architect of the new St Pancras International station."

Mark Tomblin, director of strategy at digital agency TBG, which helped Harrods create the campaign added, "This is an attempt to connect with a more tech-savvy audience, and frankly we're quite pleased if the whole campaign remains a bit 'cult'. Harrods is also creating a MySpace profile, and plan to use Twitter to send out event alerts around the exhibition."

Create Your Own QR Code With an Army of Little Robots

A company called Cross Borders created a fun little program that lets you generate your own QR codes—a 3-dimensional bar code common that can be read by cell phone camera.

All you have to do is enter a URL, and the service dispatches an army of little robots that start off standing at random but quickly start hopping into position until they make sense together and can be scanned by IR.

[via Tokyomango]

Mobile barcodes now speak to us – quite literally…

A consortium of three companies has decided to improve on the usual URL-carrying QR Codes by tweaking the data in each black and white square to contain a brief snatch of audio and a simple image. Digitalworld Toyko reports.

"The Voice QR, as it’s called, simply needs to be scanned with the camera on a mobile phone for it to give up its hidden treasure without the need to connect to a website.

That might be a squeaky voice saying “Hello,” “Well done on getting into college,” or “Thanks for your hard work.”

The consortium sees Voice QR Codes delivering multi-media jingles from posters, books and product packaging. For that to happen, it will have to persuade mobile phone makers to install software that understands the new kind of QR code – currently, only seven handsets are capable of doing so."

Japan's QR Codes Being Tested in SF

In the first large test in the United States, online guides Citysearch and Antenna Audio are rolling out QR technology in San Francisco.

More than 500 restaurants, shops and businesses reviewed by Citysearch are placing printed bar codes in their windows.

People who have special software from Scanbuy Inc. loaded on their cell phones can simply take a picture of the code and their phone's Internet browser will immediately take them to the restaurant's corresponding Citysearch page.

Users will be able to decide, based on the Citysearch reviews and other information, whether to step inside for dinner or keep walking down the street.

Once you snap a picture of the code, your phone will bring up the Citysearch's review page, letting you know whether you should go in.

[New Launches via SF Gate and Gizmodo ]

RFID LadyBag Tells You What's Missing

Project Lady Bag uses RFID tags to keep a track of the items you stuff into your bag. Should you miss out on your elusive keys; a related icon will appear on the LED screen.

The LadyBag also displays how you are feeling, fidgety hands is read as nervousness and so a nervous looking emoticon appears. If you're hugging the bag close, a happy face appears.

[gearfuse via Gizmodiva]

Last call: Japanese tombs link up with cell phones

According to Reuters, bereaved Japanese will be able to keep in touch with their loved ones beyond the grave by using mobile phones to scan bar-coded tombstones and view photos and other information about the deceased.

"Ishinokoe, a Japanese tombstone maker, will place the codes behind lockable stone doors on the tomb so only relatives with a key can scan them.

The idea was to create a tomb that would not just be a site for storing the remains of a person, but a place to honor the deceased, the company said in a press release.

Using their mobile phone displays, relatives can post and view different items that reflect on the life of their departed loved one, such as holiday snapshots.

A sample Web site displayed one photo showing a man posing with his family on a boat, and another showing the same man and a woman in front of a cluster of skyscrapers.

The stones will go on sale next month and cost around 1 million yen ($10,010).

But those who neglect their filial obligations should be warned -- the code will also allow other relatives to see a list of people who have recently visited the grave."

Fans rush for 'mobile-compatible' new England kit

England football fans will from today be able to buy their national team's new away kit – which can interact with their mobile phones.

The new Umbro strip contains a Japanese-developed QR code which can be read by mobiles and allows owners to access a special WAP internet site.

According to the kit manufacturer the code is a "two-dimensional barcode which we are using to provide you with exclusive and exciting mobile internet content".

[via Metro]

Getting Wickd

GetWickd is a dating service using mobile technology. Participants buy Wickd clothing, which features a code. Other participants spot a likely person sporting such a code, check the signil on cell phone, and have the option of sending a message to the wearer.

The idea is this: you buy a GetWickd shirt or jacket, download an app to your phone and set up your profile.

Then, when you’re out and about, looking stylish, but unapproachable, a prospective mate (who also has the GetWicked app on their phone) can scan your code from afar and initiate contact from the safety of their mobile.

It’s powered by ShotCode, a proprietary version of QR Code

Apart from the initial setup, all interaction is via the phone. The profile only let’s you link to your other mobile profiles - YouTube, Facebook, MySpace.

This also let’s you get to the know that person you’re staring at across the room a little better; you can see what they’re into before even talking to them.

[via Grinding and Smart Mobs]

Cell phone check-in in Japa

Air travelers of All Nippon Airways have been using their phones to manage the entire airline experience since September of 2006, beginning with booking flights. MSNBC reports.

"Mobile phone users can book a flight, see a seating chart of the aircraft, select their seat, have a bar-code and other key travel information e-mailed to their phone — and go to your departure gate just by producing their encrypted cell phone at airport security.

A 4-inch-long receipt that looks like it came from a standard cash register and prints out at the security check-point serves as your boarding pass."

London Fashion Week gets smart

O2 will allow visitors to London Fashion Week to take part in the industry's first-ever trial of near-field communications (NFC). vnunet reports.

"Buyers attending the event will be able to show their interest in specific clothing collections by designer Emilio de la Morena by touching NFC-enabled phones on posters carrying identifying tags.

When a phone is presented to one of these "smart posters", it will send a text message back to the designer. The feedback will offer vital intelligence ahead of the fashion industry's main selling event, which takes place in Paris two weeks after the London show."

Ikea Mobile Syncs Bar Codes, Weekly Deals to Your Phone

This Ikea Mobile kiosk was found in Seattle by Unpluggd, and allows you to scan bar codes for products to get sent via SMS to your phone.

By doing so you also opt-in to get access to coupons and specials for the week, as well as "regular updates via text message for deals and discounts." Cool while you're in the store, but somewhat annoying if you're getting pinged by Ikea about Poang chairs every week.

[via Gizmodo]

Beyond Bar Codes

Bar codes as art.

Beyond Bar Codes by Jheon Soocheon is a a site-specific installation title. The floor's bar code functions as a platform on which viewers will, by osmosis, become consumer products themselves.

[via del.icio.us/régine]

Hand-washing RFID monitor

A system that tracks hospital staff using RFID tags could ensure better hand-washing procedures and cut infections that spread among patients, say inventors who illustrated their patent application with the above diagram.

[via New Scientist]

A shopping phone

According to The Sun, "a camera phone that lets you snap an item you want, then orders it online is set to revolutionize the way Brits shop.

The breakthrough concept, dubbed Point and Find, has been developed by researchers at Nokia.

Once released (in a year or so), it will enable shoppers to take pictures of products in store windows before forwarding their snaps to special recognition software inside the handset.

After the goods have been recognized, a web browser will open in the phone, sending the information on to the internet.

The phone will then launch on online search for the best price and availability before the user places their order. "

The mobile phone that translates foreign menus into English

The days of restaurant humiliation for linguistically-challenged Britons will soon be over, reports the Daily Mail, thanks to Nokia which has developed a mobile phone application which scans a menu and automatically translates thousands of food-related words in seconds.

"To use the software, the diner simply takes a picture of the part of the menu he or she wants to translate.

The phone comes back with an English translation within seconds.

The software is a version of barcode reading applications which are already found on many mobiles.

The prototype application is able to scan and translate 9,000 Chinese words and 600 Japanese words.

Other languages - such as Korean, French, Italian and Polish - are expected to follow soon.

The software is likely to be added to one of Nokia's top-of-the-range camera phones such as the N95.

[via The Daily Mail]

500 QR Code enhanced invader scarfs

Spotted on All About Mobile Life, a 500 QR Code enhanced invader scarfs.

The code holds messages that can be decoded by any mobile phone with a Q-R code scanner.

Samsung Develops RFID Chip for Cell Phones

Samsung's RFID reader chip will eventually find its way into mobile phones, to enable new information services, according to PC World.

"Samsung's principal innovation in this area has been to design an RFID reader chip that can read different types of RFID tags. Normally, it takes more than one chip to read different kinds of RFID tags. The new chip will one day find its way into handheld devices, such as mobile phones, although the company did not say when that would happen.

When it does, people will be able to read RFID tags on products and other items meant to make the world an easier place to navigate. For example, some RFID tags on food or medicine products might give information on ingredients or dosages, while RFID tags at bus stops can offer schedules or tell when the next bus will arrive."

Finnish Town has Culture on the go with Mobiles

Fancy a dose of culture in the Finnish city of Oulu? According to Reuters, all you need is a mobile phone.

"Get theatre tickets digitally, download a smart video trailer of how the play was directed, order and pay for snacks for the interval and, after a culture-packed night, order a taxi home -- all by just swiping a cellphone over smart tags placed on the menus or around the foyer of the theatre.

The Oulu City Theatre in northern Finland, 600 kilometers (373 miles) north of Helsinki, says it is the world's first cultural institution turn mobile phones into wallets.

... NFC (near-field communication) technology is activated by waving phones over wireless readers, or smart tags, and is widely used in public transport access cards."

Solar Powered RFID tracking system

Lockheed Martin has begun deploying solar-powered Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and signposts, saving energy and negating the need for installing electrical infrastructure in remote areas. Gizmag reports.

"Designed for use in the defense and commercial sectors, the solar-powered signposts activate RFID tags attached to vehicles or pieces of equipment.

The tags then report the assets’ positions to nearby RFID readers, which relay the information to Savi Site Manager software that automatically updates the assets’ latest location.

The system is capable of tracking more than 25,000 tags per day."

Wireless ID Skin Patch Technology

Surgical suply manufacturer Frank Sammeroff and technology company Gentag will be working on a new smart, wireless ID skin patch technology that aims to reduce medical errors in hospitals, reports Ubergizmo.

"This patented, non-invasive solution combines disposable skin patches with RFID tags and cellphones, enabling doctors and nurses to use their handsets or wireless PDAs to update medical charts, time of patient visit and drug administration. "

Consumer Gadget checks the ethical background of consumer products

One of the phone projects from the europrix nominees:

Designed for mobile browsers, Consumer Gagdet is consumer's new best friend. It is a browser application that allows consumers to check the ethical background of any consumer product.

Consumer Gadget can fetch the ethical information via EAN barcodes.

Snitch-chips embedded in UK school's uniforms

According to the Times Online, children are being tracked by micro-chips embedded in their uniforms in a trial at a secondary school.

"The devices are used to monitor pupils’ movements and register their arrival in class on the teacher’s computer. Supply teachers can also be alerted if a student is likely to misbehave.

The chip connects with teachers’ computers to show a photograph of the pupil, data about academic performance and whether he or she is in the correct classroom. It can also restrict access to areas of the school. The radio frequency identification system is being tested at Hungerhill School in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Ten pupils began wearing a chip sewn into their uniforms eight months ago."

The scheme has drawn criticism from human rights campaigners. “Tagging is what we do to criminals we let out of prison early,” said David Cleater, from Leave Them Kids Alone, which campaigns against the finger-printing of pupils. “It is appalling.”

Related: - UK school uniforms may soon have GPS

[via The Arch Blog via boingboing]

Cellphone check-ins get a global standard with bar codes

According to the IHT, the trade association representing international airlines announced a global standard Thursday that could speed the adoption of cellphone check-in services using bar codes, and eliminate paper tickets.

"Airlines have been slow to adopt a system based on mobile technology because of competing regional formats. The formats permit a passenger to register a phone during booking to receive a text message containing a bar code that becomes a boarding pass. The bar code can then be read directly from the phone's screen.

The International Air Transport Association standard will enable new scanning equipment to read several regional code formats, including Aztec and Datamatrix, which are available now in Europe and North America, and QR in Japan.

The group aims to shift entirely to bar code boarding passes by 2010. Among the few airlines that now offer mobile check-in services are Air Canada, Air Berlin and Spanair.

Pet Shop Boys include QR codes in new video

English synthpop duo, Pet Shop Boys just released their new video for “Integral” which includes embedded QR codes.

Viewers with a mobile phone and a small piece of software can take pictures of the codes, and then be transported to a website about personal freedom. [via Digital Experience]

“Integral” is a critique of the Big Brother surveillance state with the slogan “if you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear”. The QR codes are linked to websites containing info about issues of civil liberties. All the QR codes are available as downloads and people are asked to use them in their own videos, and upload them to a dedicated YouTube group."

African readers get access to information via cellphones

According to the AFP, a South African newspaper Sunday became the first on the continent to offer readers the opportunity to access information via cellphones with Internet connectivity.

"The Sunday Times is inviting readers to take a picture of a front-page bar-code with the camera on their mobile phones, which will then give them automatic access to a website of one of the Springbok rugby team's chief sponsors.

... The bar-code technology has been in widespread use in Japan where it was invented in the 1990s but, according to Daniels, it is the first time that it has been used in Africa.

"In Africa, this is major. They all have cellphones but they are not online yet. This could help in bridging the divide between print and new media as well as the technological and social divide."

Mobile Barcodes Driving Magazine Traffic

The French Association of Multimedia Mobiles (AFMM) has said that the use of mobile barcodes in magazines in the past few months was very successful. mocoNews.net reports.

"With 15 to 25 percent of traffic to the websites of magazines Public, Closer, and Voici being generated by the codes.

People have to download an application—Flashcode—in order to access the content, and there were about 30,000 downloads of the software in July and August.

... “One of the main priorities now will be to gradually pre-equip mobile devices with the Flashcode software, so that the user doesn’t have to download it,” said Nicolas Guieysse, from the AFMM."

mPedigree to Track Meds in Africa

Ethan Zuckerman, an activist for economic development in Africa and a research fellow from the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, reports about a new project called mPedigree, to fight pharma fakes in the developing world with cellular phones: [via
MedGadget]

"The project, called mPedigree, seeks to build a system first in Ghana, and then throughout Africa, that tracks drugs from their original producers all the way to the pharmacy shelves, allowing each buyer in the chain to ensure that they're dealing with a legimate product, thanks to RFID tags"

Mobile Phones Scan Your T-shirt And Visit Your Online Profile

augme.com sells T-shirts that can be scanned by a mobile phone. When the phone reads the T-shirt, it will visit the website of the person wearing it.

The person wearing the T-shirt can choose any website, social networking page, photo, video or music to link the tag to. This includes the ever-popular Facebook and Myspace websites, as well as Augme’s own profiles which are designed with mobile-viewing in mind.

Press release

McDonald's previews new system using cell phones to place orders and pay

McDonald's has teamed up with SK Telecom to offer a new way of ordering. The new ordering scheme, which uses RFID was unveiled at a McDonald's in western Seoul. RFID News reports.

How it works

"Customers have to first download a program to their handsets using SK Telecom's Nate mobile Internet service in order to use the system.

Once inside McDonald's, each table has an RFID enabled menu as well as an RFID reader that plugs into the handsets.

Customers plug the reader into their mobile phones, and point them at the item on the menu that they wish to eat or drink.

The bill is then charged through the mobile phone and when the meal is ready, the system sends a text message to the phone so the customer can pick up the ready tray at a designated counter."

WineM: An RFID-controlled wine rack

News.com reporting from Wired NextFest in LA - a four-day festival of cool inventions and cutting-edge technologies from the world's leading innovators - has captured a view of WineM, a prototype of an RFID-controlled wine rack that lets owners keep track of their wine collections in a unique way.

"The smart wine rack incorporates RFID tags (applied to each wine bottle), electronic readers (embedded in each wine rack slot) and LED lights to highlight bottles in their cubbies.

Owners can control the rack with a Flash-based application that illuminates bottles based on vintage, grape, region or price.

The company said it will start taking orders for the rack early next year for delivery in 2009."

New marketing tool in the UK

QR (Quick Response) turns a camera phone into a barcode scanner. UTalk Marketing reports.

"This allows encoded information to be delivered, including URLs that can connect direct to the mobile internet, alleviating the tedious task of entering data into a mobile phone.

Codes that store messages, addresses and URLs are becoming increasingly common in magazines as well as on business cards and advertisements in Japan.

... The UK’s first QR Code at will be launched at London’s flagship HMV store as part of a new marketing campaign for the DVD release of ‘28 Weeks Later’.

Twentieth Century Fox has designed a unique QR code containing messaging and a secret URL that links to exclusive content from the film, to coincide with its release on DVD."

Smart posters beam travel info to passengers' phones

A pilot scheme that will see maps, directions and real-time travel advice transmitted from posters to mobile phones has begun in London this week.

"The three-month trial, centered around Blackfriars Underground station, will see Near Field Communication technology embedded in a number of 'touchpoint' posters.

When a NFC-enabled mobile phoned is placed against the smart poster, even if deep underground, it will pinpoint the exact location of the passenger and then transmit detailed information including where to go to make the next stage of the journey, how to get there, how long the transfer will take and when the next service will arrive.

This information includes all modes of public transport in the vicinity of Blackfriars - Tube, National Rail, bus and river services."

[via Transport Briefing

University adds RFID tags to mobile phones

Starting in August, Slippery Rock University's 8,500 students and faculty members will each receive a passive 13.56 MHz RFID tag they can attach to their cell phones. RFID Journal reports via TUV Product Service Industry News]

"This tag will allow them to pay for everything from laundry and copier services to movies and groceries in the surrounding town of Slippery Rock, located about 50 minutes north of Pittsburgh.

... Students can go online at any time to track their spending and, if they so desire, allow their parents the same access. Their parents can then see where the money is being spent, and add money to the account."

RFID "skin patches" could provide post-surgery monitoring by cell phone

A device to monitor the progress of damaged tissue using temperature and pressure sensors, has been created for use in conjunction with RFID-enabled mobile phones or laptops. TUB Product services

"According to the firms behind the development, it enables doctors and surgeons to remotely observe the status of patients in the period immediately after surgery, using a wireless device on to which the information from the tag is sent."

SuiPo: RFID enabled posters

RFID-enabled posters at JR Shinjuku Station called SuiPo.

When passengers show their RFID tickets (SUICA cards) to the posters, they get relevant info/ads on their cell phones.

RFID readers are between the posters. First time users need to associate their RFID ticket IDs with their mobile phone email addresses, using this kiosk terminal.

[via RFID in Japan]

RFID Tags to keep track of students cheating

Exam papers are being 'tagged' with RFI to combat cheating in GCSEs and A-levels this summer, reports This is London via The Raw Feed.

"Micro-texting" technology will allow the board to identify photocopied exam papers. Genuine papers will be given tiny marks only visible under a magnifying glass.

... Under the system, bags of papers will be fitted with RFID tags. These will be scanned as the bags are despatched and again after delivery to schools to check whether papers are missing.

The tags should help identify any bags which have been tampered with."

Other ways to prevent cheating:

-- Phonebusters - Is a handheld device to fight the use of cell phones in classrooms . It works by detecting RF signals and alerts the operator when a mobile device is being used, it can then track the phone being operated. It also detects digital signals of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

-- Gadget nails texting cheats - UK schools are installing detection systems in classrooms to combat pupils’ pervasive use What's novel about this system, is that it does not block signals, which would be unlawful under the Wireless and Telegraphy Act, but detects mobile phone activity - and lets the students know, probably scaring them to death.

Video QR Codes

Digital World Tokyo reports on the latest versions of QR Codes in Japan now include images and video.

"The "Design QR barcodes" move things on a step from plain black and white squares to spruce them up with personalised logos and even moving pictures. Although no new functionality is added, the thinking behind the development is to catch the eye, drawing attention to the new codes and thus to whatever mobile websites they link to."