What if the paper in your hands could hold digital information—without any visible code or alteration to its design? This is exactly what Imprinto achieves. Developed by a team from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Adobe Research, Imprinto is a cutting-edge system that allows digital data to be embedded in printed documents using infrared ink that is invisible to the naked eye.
Presented at CHI 2025 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems) held in Japan, Imprinto marks a significant milestone in the field of invisible interaction, where physical media double as digital interfaces without compromising appearance or function.
How Does Imprinto Work?
Imprinto uses a specially formulated infrared ink that can be printed using standard inkjet printers. While completely invisible to the human eye, this ink can be detected using infrared cameras, including modified smartphone cameras or specialized USB-connected devices.
The embedded data can be anything from text metadata and timestamps to web links, identification codes, or even markers for augmented reality (AR) experiences.
“It’s a safe, low-cost and elegant way to embed digital information directly into physical paper, whether for authentication, interactivity, or tracking,” says Raúl García Martín, a lead researcher from UC3M.
Applications Across Education, Health, and Industry
Imprinto’s potential impact spans multiple fields:
- Education: Textbooks and printed study guides could include invisible links to interactive resources, multimedia content, or AR experiences—allowing students to go beyond static text without altering the page design.
- Healthcare: Infrared-encoded medical records, prescriptions, and labels could carry secure patient data, readable only by authorized IR-enabled devices—offering new layers of privacy and traceability.
- Business and Industry: From document verification to product traceability, brands could embed invisible IDs and authenticity markers directly into packaging, brochures, or contracts—replacing visible QR codes or RFID tags with a more discreet solution.
The Future is (Infra)Red
Imprinto is part of a larger research initiative focused on developing infrared-based interaction technologies that blend seamlessly into everyday life. The same research group has introduced complementary innovations:
- VeinGoOne: A wearable vein viewer that connects to mobile devices via USB-C. Using computer vision and AI, it provides a real-time 3D reconstruction of veins, assisting medical staff during procedures.
- BrightMarker: A tagging system that uses invisible fluorescent ink on 3D objects for tracking and classification—especially useful in logistics, manufacturing, and smart retail.
Together, these technologies hint at a future where digital and physical realities merge not through screens and displays—but through subtle, embedded interactions using invisible ink and machine-readable codes.
Toward Seamless Interfaces
One long-term vision of these researchers is to shift human-computer interaction away from smartphones and toward more intuitive wearables, like smart glasses equipped with infrared sensors.
In this future, a user wearing such glasses could instantly access the hidden data in printed documents, posters, packaging, or even clothing—simply by looking at them. Information becomes ambient, embedded, and frictionless.
This approach could revolutionize everything from education delivery and medical documentation to supply chain management and public signage, particularly in smart cities and connected environments.
Silent Innovation, Powerful Impact
What sets Imprinto apart is its non-intrusive design philosophy. Unlike barcodes, NFC tags, or QR codes that require visual space and often clash with design aesthetics, infrared ink allows for digital augmentation without compromising the visual integrity of the medium.
The implications for data security, user experience, and accessibility are enormous. Documents can now carry metadata or authentication layers undetectable to the eye but instantly accessible through machines.
The full research, titled Imprinto: Enhancing Infrared Inkjet Watermarking for Human and Machine Perception, has been published in the CHI 2025 proceedings, and the team is already pursuing patent registration and future commercialization of the technology.
Whether for secure diplomas, augmented museum guides, or interactive textbooks, Imprinto bridges the gap between the tangible and the digital—quietly transforming how we interact with the world around us.
Source: Techxplore
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