Realeyes3D debuts software to reduce blurring of camera phone barcode photos

Realeyes3D has announced new software that reduces blurring of 1D barcode photos taken with camera phones (see below), according to the company’s press release.

For years mobile companies developing barcode and barcode-type reader software have wrestled with the poor quality of camera phone images and have taken at least two different paths.  One path developing software to effectively read traditional 1D barcodes that are printed on billions of items.

The second path is developing 2D codes that are optimized for camera phone photography, such as QR and Dot Matrix codes.  Both paths make sense.  Codes optimized for camera phones not only are designed to reduce the problems of poor image quality but also can embed more data than 1D codes.

Improvements in camera phones — higher resolution, close-up lenses and automatic focus — can result in better quality images.  But it remains difficult for the majority of handsets to take a sufficiently clear photo for barcode reader software to interpret.

Offer free trials!

If Realeyes3D’s software truly enables many camera phones to process clear images of 1D barcodes, it could dramatically stimulate the market. 

If the company wants to stimulate the demand for 1D barcode applications, it should enable all users with compatible camera phones to freely test the software and obtain barcode database information — if only for a limited time. 

Cellular operators move slower than cold molasses to commercialize products, and barcode-based products are no exceptions.  If cellular users are able to download Realeyes3D’s software and obtain barcode information, it could stimulate the operators to launch their own offerings.

Realeyes3D does a nice job in its press release (pdf file — boo!) of discussing its software and including a chart comparing 1D and 2D codes.