Semacodes - URL Images

Wired is running an article about the use of mobile phones and semacodes to bridge the gap between the real world and the web. It works by using semacodes (square matrix that represents a standards web URL) and mobile phone cameras. Users take a photo of the semacode and then use a semacode reader to translate the image into a URL that can be used to access the web using the mobiles own browser. A sample of a semacode is shown on the right.

This creates other interesting ideas of how you could use this for other applications. It would allow clickable links on posters, buildings, pamphelts, anything essentially allowing for any physical item to be linked with the Internet. One application that could occur is the use of heads up displays and small cameras to provide augmented reality type capabilities. This could allow information to be downloaded and displayed by using the semacodes as reference points in the physical world. This has been done before but there has never been the standard to support this. If semacodes and the use of mobile phone cameras takes off then we could see these icons around more often allowing for augmented reality capabilities to become easier.