Multimedia-Enabled Dot Codes as Communication Technologies

Abstract

The present author has been using new dot codes developed independently by Gridmark, Inc. and Apollo Japan, and conducting school activities with original handmade teaching materials overlaid with these dot codes in collaboration with schoolteachers all over the world. In our work, just touching the “invisible” dot codes printed on the paper or symbol icons by using a sound pen clearly reproduces voices and sounds. By using a scanner pen connected to a tablet or PC, multimedia sources such as movies, Web pages, and PowerPoint files, in addition to voices and sounds, can be reproduced on its screen. In this article, state-of-the-art dot code technology including a recently developed new application for a smart phone is outlined, and basic information regarding the creation of original handmade materials using dot codes and the use at both general and special needs schools is presented.