On Wed, 1 Feb 2006, Mika Tuupola wrote:
> Yet another barcode-to-read-with-mobile.
> http://www.colorzip.co.jp/en/technology.html
It's been around and promoted in Japan for some time, though it's not
reached the mass market yet. But perhaps it didn't get a lot of time
on this list; I seem to recall I heard about it a few times at Mobile
Monday or similar things.
> This one however seems to have pretty interesting implementation
> behind...
The main reason for the "real-time" component of that is that there's
not a lot of room for data in a colour code. For a 5x5 4-color one, each
dot encodes two bit, giving you a total of 50 bits to cover the data
and all error checking. So they just encode a number and go back to the
server with it for the information associated with it.
Advantages:
Easier to decode with poor cameras.
Potentially faster decode even with a good camera.
Usable in low-resolution mediums, such as TV, where QR-code can't work.
Disadvantages:
Network connection required.
You have to pay the ColorCode folks on a continuing basis for them
to continue to deliver your content.
I feel it's the second disadvantage that's a key limit to mass-market
acceptance. To grow a big mass market in something you need two things:
readers and content. As each gets bigger, it drives the other to get
bigger.
For QR code, it was kickstarted by Docomo getting enough readers out
there that it became worthwhile to put a code on a flyer or business
card. After that, anybody could make a QR code, and lots of people did.
That created enough content that all of the carriers decided to build
QR-code into every new phone.
Unfortunately, you'll never get that "content kick" with ColorCode
because many users won't find it worthwhile to pay what are essentially
royalties on an individual color code, especially with the lack of
readers out there. A couple of years ago it was a pretty low-risk
proposition to put a QR code on your business card because it cost
almost nothing, and so you lost little if it went unused. But would you
pay on a monthly basis to have a ColorCode on your business card right now?
cjs
--
Curt Sampson <cjs@cynic.net> +81 90 7737 2974
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
by those who have not got it. --George Bernard Shaw
Received on Thu Feb 2 04:37:20 2006