Mobile Text Extraction & Recognition Via Mobile Phones

With all the talk about barcode and image recognition, I’ve never really explored the idea of mobile text recognition and text extraction from images taken with camera phones.  If done correctly, it could have enormous benefits for users, and expand functionality well beyond that of barcode and basic image recognition.

Imagine this; you find an interesting article, or product advertisement in a magazine, newspaper, or anything else for that matter, and simply snap a quick photo with your camera phone.  You then use an application on your phone, or text the photo to a shortcode, which will then scan the photo for any and all text present, recognize the text and instantly search several pre-determined databases for relevant content.  If you snap a photo of a new product you deem interesting, the app can instantly recognize the brand name and return tons of relevant content about that product, including how to possibly purchase it.

Beyond the obvious marketing benefits of such a technology, imagine the pure informational benefits users would have.  If you read something about an interesting place half-way across the world or a person you’d like to research further, simply snap a photo of the name of the person or place, and instantly be returned a link to the wikipedia article that explains everything you wanted to know.

I’ve done some research and kind seem to find anything of the sorts currently available, though I’m sure it’s in the works.  With text-extraction already viable as well as image recognition via mobile devices, I don’t see why the two can’t be combined.  If I’m wrong, please correct me!