Fujitsu is working with steganography -- a technique for embedding information in other types of information -- and has developed a prototype system for hiding a 12 digit number. The digits are embedded in an image that can be read by a camera phone or PDA with the appropriate scanning software, according to an article in ZDNet UK.
Unlike using a barcode -- that's typically designed to be visible on a product -- steganography's claim to fame is the ability to hide data in another type of information (i.e., an image, audio file, video file). A great deal has been written about the technique, such as in this detailed article in SecurityFocus, especially after the September 11 terrorist atttacks.
More than three years ago Wired News published an article headlined, "Bin Laden: Steganography Master?" The United States government was concerned Osama bin Laden and his allies were hiding information using steganography. However, unless I missed a report to the contrary, I don't think there has been any proof of this.
Not new
The concept of steganography is old, and has been used for thousands of years to include information in different media. Fujitsu is one of many companies developing steganographic and other related products (such as barcodes) that are appropriate for delivering information to wireless and mobile devices.
Fujitsu's technique enables information to be hidden in a one centimeter square block that is undetectable by simply looking at the image where it's embedded.
Of course, if the image is invisible, there must be a way for users to know it's there, as I wrote in an article about Digimarc, that is developing a watermarking technique appropriate for camera phones.
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