QR Codes… You’ve Been One-Upped!

I remember when I first started seeing random QR codes in advertisements. I didn’t know what they were or why they were popping up all over the place. But, as an L-Tron employee, I soon found out the scoop – after all, barcodes are one of L-Tron’s specialties. Anyways, I soon began to see QR codes everywhere.  I’ve seen them in magazines, on my mouthwash bottle, and even on gravestones.  QR codes are definitely a creative way for companies to advertise and for people to access instant information. But there’s always something new on the horizon. So, what’s the latest coming down the pipes for our tech-savvy culture? Acoustic barcodes!

Yes, by “acoustic” I am referring to sound. This new type of barcode, developed by a team of computer scientists, actually listens for when someone scratches it with their fingernail or other scratching device! If you’re interested in the technology behind this cool new invention, you can read the specifics here, but if you’re like me, I’d rather skip the tech details and read about what these barcodes can and will potentially do for us, according to their creators.

Acoustic barcodes will:

  1. Audibly identify objects and their engraved parts, such as the components of a model toy, parts of an engine, or human anatomy on a dummy.
  2. Identify items, item descriptions, and prices from outside a tagged storefront window.
  3. Perform office tasks such as “sync phone now” and “forward calls to desk” using a mobile phone with built-in microphone.
  4. Provide students with a digital copy of non-digital work, such as notes on a classroom whiteboard.

 

Check out their video demonstration:

 

Acoustic barcodes sound pretty clever, don’t they? Learning about this innovative concept sure leaves me wondering if acoustic barcodes will catch on! What do you think? Will acoustic barcodes be the next big thing?