Forthroid on Android: A QR-code based information access system for smart phones

The Forthroid is a location-based system that “augments” physical objects with multimedia information and enables users to receive information about physical objects or request services related to physical objects. It employs computer-vision techniques and Quick Response codes (QR-codes). We have implemented a prototype on Android platforms and evaluated its performance with systems metrics and subjective tests. We discuss our findings and challenges in prototyping on Android OS. The analysis indicates that the network and the server are the main sources of delay, while the CPU load may vary depending on the specific Forthroid operation. The preliminary subjective test results suggest that users tolerate these delays and the offered services can be particularly useful.