Actually, the technology exists.
It's been a number of years since I've last heard about this sort of tool, and
perhaps that's a sign that they were simply ahead of their time and that they're
about to make a comeback. I'm not sure what shape they come in today (somebody
is undoubtedly working on it) but back then the idea was basically to have a handheld
barcode reader connected either by cable or by infra-red to the computer (USB
makes it even easier today). At the end of a newspaper or magazine article a barcode
(or a few of them) would appear, and when the reader is passed over that barcode
with the handheld reader the linked page would open in his or her browser. And
what was on that page? There were numerous possibilities: updates to the article,
links to more information, a glossary of important terms, perhaps a map.
I don't know why this sort of tool never seemed to take off. Frankly, I'd definitely
consider using one, though I admit that I read the physical newspaper much less
than I used to. And that may well be precisely why a tool such as this isn't in
the works. After all, if in the long run we're going to be reading the paper on
the web, this particular sort of device isn't going to be needed at all.
Go to: What? No link?, or
Go to: Guilt by hyperlink?