Why don't individual cards have a upc?

[Mario1975]

Was reading another thread about touchscreen trading cards and started thinking, why don't all cards have upcs? I'm thinking how great would it be to use a bar code reader app on your phone and scan the card and have that same program automatically catalog it for you on some organizer. Not only would it be a hell of a lot faster but also make it easier to catch variations and short prints.

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[PujolsCollector]

It sounds like it would be difficult to integrate between different companies and would be tough to put into the design while making it look good.

 

[Mario1975]

I'm thinking just a bar code on the back of the card. I mean they already have a bar code scanner app and I'm thinking if the put bar codes on literally almost everything, including things that cost sometimes pennies, that it can't really be that tough or expensive.

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[200lbhockeyplayer]

QR codes would be a lot easier. Scanning the code could then offer whatever type of info wanted...text info, web link, etc.



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[MansGame]

Or how about just an app that you take a picture of the from of the card and it recognizes it and catalogs it, etc. I use an app like this for wine. Every bottle of wine I drink I take a picture of the label or from of the bottle and the rest is done for me. Don't ask me how it's done but it's awesome.

 

[Mario1975]

It really is crazy the technology that's out there and the crazy apps out there. If there is an app that can recognize a bottle of wine from a picture got to believe they could make one that recognizes cards. That would be much better than a upc code.

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[morgoth]

There is a difference between scannable bar codes and UPC codes. You have to pay for UPC codes while scannable bar codes are just generated by a computer program and formatted however you like. UPC codes are tracked by grocery stores and companies to generate sales and trend data as well, that is why they cost.

 

[Mario1975]

Never realized that. So bar code sounds like the way to go. I mean obviously it wouldn't help with the cards already made but might be a good thing going forward. Surprised some app developer hasn't come up with something yet to id cards and catalogue them automatically with a smartphone or that card companies haven't thought to use a bar code unless it is alot more expensive and time consuming than I think.

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[MansGame]

It really is crazy the technology that's out there and the crazy apps out there. If there is an app that can recognize a bottle of wine from a picture got to believe they could make one that recognizes cards. That would be much better than a upc code.

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It's called Vivinio and it's crazy. Have no clue how it works but its literally picture recognition.

 

[Casebusters]

In order for that to work, every card made would already need to be in a database with pictures

 

[olerud363]

Instead of pictures maybe the app could scan info from the back of the card. Maybe text recognition could use the player name, card number, copyright info, etc to register the card. Any app developers out there? I'd pay for that app for sure!

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[rsmath]

In order for that to work, every card made would already need to be in a database with pictures

yep, that's the rub. Before the post about UPC costing money, I would have thought there weren't enough UPC codes to cover the large amount of cards yet to come. Bar codes give you more flexibility because you can make the bar code large enough to cover every future card to be released. the problem as Casebusters noted is that Topps (or UD, panini, leaf, etc) would incur an expense to catalog and scan every version of card made in order to make a bar code database work.

 

[Mario1975]

Maybe Topps or other card companies could recoup the money and even turn a profit by creating a website and service that for a monthly fee, you could have an account on the site where your scanned cards are catalogued and can trade with others, kind of like a high tech beckett site. To make it more enticing maybe they could set up to randomly give prizes like cards, packs, etc., kind of like the million card giveaway, when you scan your cards into the site.

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[MansGame]

Adding a scannable item to the back of the card is not hard and it can be small and wouldnt take away from the card IMO

Great thread by the way...

 

[Frow]

Maybe Topps or other card companies could recoup the money and even turn a profit by creating a website and service that for a monthly fee, you could have an account on the site where your scanned cards are catalogued and can trade with others, kind of like a high tech beckett site. To make it more enticing maybe they could set up to randomly give prizes like cards, packs, etc., kind of like the million card giveaway, when you scan your cards into the site.

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So....eTopps

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Patch database.

Is that patch real? Scan it

 

[Mario1975]

Always wondered what etopps was. Are they real cards? Is it a topps website where you can catalogue cards and trade them with other people on the site?

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[cgilmo]

Man, I LOVE all the app sigs in this thread.

Keep using it boys!

 

[Bob Loblaw]

The mobility of this board doesn't add what you think it might, Chris.

While it makes the board more accessable, it leads to shorter posts by virtue of the device -- no way anyone types as fast o a phone as they do on a full keyboard.

While quantity is not better than quality, in many cases, a longer post is better than a short one.

 

[Casebusters]

What do you mean Bob

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