Receiving Non-Contact Information About the Object through a Mobile
Application
SIRANUSH SARGSYAN, ANNA HOVAKIMYAN
Department of Programming and Information Technologies
Yerevan State University
1, Alek Manukyan st., Yerevan, 0025
ARMENIA
Abstract: - The article introduces a mobile application that enables users to retrieve information about objects
by simply approaching them with their phone. This eliminates the need for manual searching and allows for
automatic retrieval of relevant information on the phone. This non-contact method of retrieving information
makes it easier to preserve and utilize objects, saving time and resources.
The mobile application that has been developed comprises of various modules such as object identification,
object data collection and processing, database modeling, and information retrieval. It has been implemented
using modern technologies and equipment using Java language. This application can be used effectively in
multiple fields such as museums, parks, medicine, education, among others. In the field of education, this app
provides additional resources and a more interactive learning experience that goes beyond traditional textbooks
or presentations.
Key-Words: - Mobile application, QR code, Augmented Reality, Barcode, Near Field Communication, Beacon
Technology, education
Received: September 2, 2023. Revised: Ma\ 11, 2024. Accepted: -XQH14, 2024. Published: July , 2024.
1 Introduction
In today's world, digital technologies are constantly
evolving and have become an integral part of our
lives. New devices are being developed to provide
efficient solutions to various problems. The article
explains how to obtain information about an object
without making physical contact through the use of
a smartphone.
This information can be retrieved in various
formats such as images, texts, videos, etc. By
scanning QR or barcodes on items, mobile
applications can extract information linked to those
codes from a URL or database [1, 2, 3 ].
Nowadays, it's possible to obtain information
using augmented reality (AR) [4, 5, 6]. AR is a
technology that projects digital content onto the real
world through a device's camera. By pointing the
camera at an object, the mobile application can
recognize it and display relevant information or
interactive elements on the screen. Some examples
of AR devices include smartphones and tablets.
The process of adding supplementary elements to
the existing information to complement non-contact
data about the object being studied is known as
augmented reality. This supplementary information
can include details about the object's history,
scientific properties or cultural significance, and can
be displayed on the screen alongside the object. The
information displayed can be tailored to suit
different fields.
Augmented reality finds its applications in
various fields such as museums, parks, education,
medicine, and many others. By pointing their
phones at designated spots, users can take virtual
tours of museums, historical sites or natural
attractions. By integrating non-contact information
about the object into the educational process,
students can become more engaged in the learning
process and develop a greater interest in various
subjects.
Our teaching experience has shown that
incorporating mobile applications in the educational
process to gather information on courses is highly
beneficial.
International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
DOI: 10.37394/232027.2024.6.14
Siranush Sargsyan, Anna Hovakimyan
E-ISSN: 2769-2507
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Volume 6, 2024
There are different ways to obtain information
about an object using a phone, depending on the
phone's capabilities and the type of information
required. Some common search methods include
using the internet to search for keywords related to
the object, scanning barcodes or QR codes using
mobile applications, and so on [7, 8].
Mobile applications can scan barcodes or QR
codes from objects and retrieve information from a
database or URL related to the code [9, 10].
Additionally, non-contact information about the
object can also be obtained using various
technologies available within the mobile
application.
NFC, which stands for Near Field
Communication, is a set of communication
protocols that enables electronic devices such as
smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices
to communicate with each other when they are
brought close to each other [11]. In other words,
NFC is a technology that allows devices in close
proximity to communicate with each other.
Additionally, NFC tags are physical objects that
come equipped with NFC technology, which allows
them to store and transmit data to NFC-enabled
devices.
NFC tags are tiny electronic devices that can
store data and communicate with other NFC-
enabled devices when they are close to each other
[12, 13]. These tags contain information that can be
read by NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or
tablets using NFC technology.
NFC tags are capable of storing various types of
data, including URLs, text, contact information, or
commands. These tags can be embedded in physical
objects and can trigger actions. When scanned by a
compatible mobile app, they can provide
information about a particular object. By touching
the phone to the NFC tag, the information stored on
the tag can be retrieved [14, 15, 16] .
Beacons emit Bluetooth signals picked up by
mobile devices. Applications determine user
proximity to objects .
AR technology uses a device's camera to overlay
digital information onto real-world objects viewed
through a smartphone or tablet. AR technology
projects digital content onto the real world through a
device's camera. By pointing the camera at an
object, a mobile application can recognize it and
display relevant information or interactive elements
on the screen.
Mobile devices are often equipped with sensors
that provide contextual information about the user's
surroundings. Apps can then use this information to
obtain relevant details about nearby objects.
IoT devices with sensors can transmit data to
mobile apps. For example, a smart home app can
display temperature, energy usage, and device status
[17, 18]. Mobile applications can provide users with
non-contact information about nearby objects using
a combination of technologies, each with its own
advantages and limitations.
3 Stages of work of mobile application
The main function of a mobile application is to
recognize objects and provide users with relevant
information about them. The initial step in obtaining
information about an object is identification. This is
followed by creating a database, extracting
necessary information from it, processing the data,
and presenting it to the user.
Our application uses NFC tags, Bluetooth
beacons, images, and software to identify objects.
Since most modern smartphones have NFC
compatibility, our NFC tags can perform various
actions such as providing information or opening a
web page. The Bluetooth beacon's identifier is
processed by the mobile application's corresponding
software module. This unique identifier is used to
determine the device's physical location and trigger
location-specific events, such as registering the
device's location or receiving notifications. QR
codes were used to provide images of objects in use
inexpensively. These methods and devices can be
customized or combined for various use cases, such
as education, shopping, or museums.
Apart from identification, it was essential to
gather information on the objects. The object data in
the relevant program module has a specific format,
including object name, description, picture, and
other relevant details. The created structure
guarantees the incorporation of diverse information.
The variety and uniqueness of objects around us
make it difficult to categorize them based on
common characteristics. Therefore, a non-relational
data structure was chosen as a database model
instead of a relational model, which requires a
uniform structure for all data. The non-relational
model is highly adaptable and user-friendly,
allowing for distinct differentiation between all
objects [19].
After the identification process is complete, data
is retrieved from Firebase Realtime Database. The
data is then processed and displayed to the user.
2 Non-contact means of obtaining
information
International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
DOI: 10.37394/232027.2024.6.14
Siranush Sargsyan, Anna Hovakimyan
E-ISSN: 2769-2507
122
Volume 6, 2024
4 Software implementation of a
mobile application
The software package has been developed using the
Java programming language in the Android Studio
environment. It is designed to be compatible with
various types of phones. The Android operating
system is built on the Linux kernel and features a
virtual machine created by Google. Google provides
libraries that are used by Java applications to
manage devices [20, 21, 22 ].
The application's functionality can be divided
into three main blocks. The first block of the
application's work is the Scanner, which is designed
to identify the object. The Scanner is followed by
the Data Collector and the DataBase creation block.
Basic information about objects is stored in the
database. After receiving the identifier of the object
from the Scanner, the corresponding information is
obtained from the database.
After receiving the information from the base,
the GUI-related block is already working, as a result
of which the information about the object is
displayed on the phone.
Software modules for activation of object
identification equipment are developed with
templates using appropriate Java language libraries.
The operation of each device was carried out by
the corresponding software module. The
DataCollector is designed according to the
Singletone pattern because an application needs to
have a single DataCollector. Receiving the identifier
as input, it establishes a connection with the
database and searches for the relevant information.
In the next step, the information display model
InformationDialog(context,dataModel) works. In
the DataBase block, the data is given according to
scanner types such as description, id, title,
image_url. Data can be added there using Firebase
Functions using the Firebase Console. In the GUI
block, the view of the information displayed to the
user was implemented using the Dialog template.
In the created mobile application, it was very
important to choose a database that does not have
uniform data. One NoSQL database implementation
is Firebase Realtime Database [19]. It is
implemented by Google and provides convenient
mechanisms for working with Mobile applications.
Firebase Realtime Database allows you to create
applications that have controlled access to the
database.
In the developed mobile application, the data is
presented locally, and if the device does not have an
Internet connection at the moment, then real-time
event changes will continue to reach the user the
first time the Internet connection is restored.
When the device reconnects to the Internet, the
Realtime Database synchronizes the local data with
the data in the database and resolves the conflicts.
Firebase Realtime Database can store large amounts
of data without losing speed.
5 The use of information received
about the object in the educational
process
As university professors with years of experience,
we are committed to improving the quality of
education for our students. To this end, we have
integrated the developed application into the
educational process of master's students in our
faculty. Our goal is to enhance the effectiveness of
the learning process.
Since some subjects are taught on a voluntary
basis, we have created QR codes for these subjects.
Students can scan these codes with their phones to
access websites, documents, or videos that provide
relevant information about the subjects. This helps
students choose a subject that aligns with their
interests and goals.
In the upcoming years, we aim to utilize AR
(Augmented Reality) technology for this specific
purpose. Our main focus is on implementing AR
applications that will enable students to access
information in the form of 3D models and animated
overlays by simply using their phones. Subjects may
be taught with the support of educational materials
such as encyclopedia applications, scholarly articles,
and museum applications that offer detailed
descriptions and multimedia content.
Integrating QR codes in the classroom can
enhance learning by providing students with access
to additional information, interactive resources, and
multimedia content.
For the Data Structures and Machine Learning
subjects taught in our faculty, we develop and use
audio guides (podcasts) that students listen to on
their phones while studying those subjects.
Integrating phone-based information gathering into
the learning process has increased student
motivation, engagement, and curiosity in the
subjects.
6 Conclusion
Within the framework of the development of the
mobile application presented in this work, the
problems of object identification, data collection,
processing, database modeling and obtaining the
required information were solved. We discovered
International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
DOI: 10.37394/232027.2024.6.14
Siranush Sargsyan, Anna Hovakimyan
E-ISSN: 2769-2507
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Volume 6, 2024
that obtaining non-contact information from objects
doesn't have to be expensive. We utilized affordable
and user-friendly technologies to achieve our goals.
Information that we receive can be processed
using computers or mobile devices, which makes
our lives easier and helps us manage large amounts
of data comfortably. The developed application can
be used to extract information from various objects
in different fields, including education.
The integration of the developed application into
the learning process provides more attractive,
interactive and accessible learning for students. It
increases their motivation and interest in different
subjects. This approach allows them to discover the
world around them in a new and interesting way.
We plan to integrate AI technologies into mobile
apps that receive non-contact information to extend
their functionality [23]. In this case, the application
can recognize and analyze the characteristics and
features of an object by pointing the device's camera
at it.
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DOI: 10.37394/232027.2024.6.14
Siranush Sargsyan, Anna Hovakimyan
E-ISSN: 2769-2507
124
Volume 6, 2024
Contribution of Individual Authors to the
Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting
Policy)
Siranush Sargsyan carried out the design and
implementation of the project using contactless
technologies for obtaining information.
Anna Hovakimyan implemented some program
blocks of the application.
Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a
Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself
No funding was received for conducting this study.
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare
that are relevant to the content of this article.
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.0)
This article is published under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
_US
International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
DOI: 10.37394/232027.2024.6.14
Siranush Sargsyan, Anna Hovakimyan
E-ISSN: 2769-2507
125
Volume 6, 2024
