Android phones to automatically zoom and read distant QR codes

Google is experimenting with a new feature that could make scanning QR codes from a distance much easier on Android phones.

The feature involves an auto-zoom function that automatically detects QR codes in the camera frame, zooms in on them, and reads the information encoded within.

While the feature is still in the testing phase and has not yet been rolled out to devices, but it is already included in the latest versions of the APIs that Google offers to developers. Specifically, Google's code scanner API has been updated to include this auto-zoom capability.

This updated API is used in Google's QR Code Scanner system app, but it can also be integrated into other third-party applications.

Users won't need to grant camera permissions separately, as the auto-zoom function leverages Google's on-device machine learning to interpret QR codes. The API processes the QR code and only outputs a Barcode object to the app, ensuring user privacy.

While the exact technical details of this feature are still unclear, it is speculated that it may incorporate artificial intelligence technologies similar to those used in other types of multimedia.