Smart Stamp wins Touchatag and Microsoft Tag innovation awards for augmented print concept

A US start-up has won two innovation competitions for its ‘interactive correspondence’ concept, an augmented print solution that uses tags and 2D barcodes to update, verify and supplement postal mail.

SMART STAMP: Uses RFID and Microsoft Tags to tie mailed items to the internet
SMART STAMP: Uses RFID and Microsoft Tags to tie mailed items to the internet

The idea of augmented print, where tags or 2D barcodes are used to link a printed item with updated or additional information on the web, via a mobile phone or other device, is beginning to gain ground. Now a US start-up has won two innovation competitions for the ‘Smart Stamp’, an “interactive correspondence” concept that uses a combination of 2D barcodes and RFID tags to connect postal mail and the internet.

“The mail system is one of the most significant communication mediums in the world, but letters can quickly become outdated the moment they are placed into their envelopes,” Smart Stamp inventor Elliott Klein told NFCW. “Postal mailing value can increase with connectivity to the internet with NFC and RFID so sent mail stays current and relevant. The Smart Stamp solution helps bridge the gap between physical mail and today’s increasingly digital world while maintaining privacy levels that consumers, government and business expect for new technologies.”

“Smart Stamp services represent the next evolution of NFC and RFID postal applications where the so-called ‘internet of things’ can be embedded into everyday items with built-in web access technology to grow value and convenience of envelopes and postal mail,” adds Klein.

HOW IT WORKS: Consumers read the Smart Stamp with a PC or mobile phone (click to enlarge)
HOW IT WORKS: Consumers read the Smart Stamp with a PC or mobile phone (click to enlarge)

In July, Smart Stamp won the international Tag Slaps Design Contest run by Microsoft Tag and, earlier this month, also won the open category in Touchatag’s Vienna Jungle Scrum competition. Klein has already presented the concept to the US Election Assistance Commission and the US Postal Service and is actively talking with technology venture groups and potential development partners in a bid to bring the concept to market.

Next: Visit the NFCW Expo to find new suppliers and solutions