Discover App Uses Digital Watermarks for Scanning Images and Video

  • Digimarc moves beyond ‘watermark’ to a ‘desireable consumer experience’ with its new Discover app that “lets users capture visual and audio input with a smart phone and search for related information,” reports MIT’s Technology Review.
  • “Discover combines a variety of media search functions into a single app that will allow users to scan images, audio, video, and even barcodes or QR codes (two-dimensional versions of barcodes) — all without switching between apps.”
  • The CE manufacturers historically objected to installing watermark detectors because the content industry wanted to use them to stop undesired consumer behavior.
  • This app and others like it offer consumers a positive experience that could make that argument moot, and it could support new business models.
  • The free app is available for iOS and Android phones.

6 Comments

  1. As I read it, this is really more of a forensic WM from the device makers perspective (no in device detector required). The detection is done by the app in the iOS or Android device. But, I can see this having a place in the new generation of digital media playback/streaming devices…

  2. Yes, it is a downloadable App, removing embedding and detection from the debates between CE an content – it is a consumer choice. It is an “embedded” watermark that adds to the experience. It could be used for ‘forensic’ (legal) purposes, but I suspect they wouldn’t want that term used for the current implementation.

  3. As I read it, this is really more of a forensic WM from the device makers perspective (no in device detector required). The detection is done by the app in the iOS or Android device. But, I can see this having a place in the new generation of digital media playback/streaming devices…

  4. Yes, it is a downloadable App, removing embedding and detection from the debates between CE an content – it is a consumer choice. It is an “embedded” watermark that adds to the experience. It could be used for ‘forensic’ (legal) purposes, but I suspect they wouldn’t want that term used for the current implementation.

  5. agreed. I wasn’t using “forensic” in so much of a legal sense but rather just the scientific information aspect. Certainly many better terms to use in this case…

  6. agreed. I wasn’t using “forensic” in so much of a legal sense but rather just the scientific information aspect. Certainly many better terms to use in this case…

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.