Late last night Silicon Alley Insider ran a piece about Google potentially being interested in using small, square barcodes, like those found prominently in Japan, as part of their advertising platform. One problem with this obviously is the lack of cellphone support for the codes in this country, but as SAI mentions near the end of their article, Google’s Android platform could certainly change that.

These barcodes are huge in Japan because they usually offer promotions or coupons and can easily be printed just about anywhere. In some regards they might be seen as more of an interactive game with your cellphone as your primary input device rather than an obtrusive advertisement.

As Adam Ostrow notes at Mashable these codes essentially create interactive advertisements in which companies can finally get some actual data back as to a specific ad penetration in printed media. Google would be very wise to play up this aspect in their attempt to branch out to the physical world of advertising.

While certain demographics in this country used to a printed picture in front of you being an advertisement may not ever be able to comprehend such an idea, certainly I could see the teens of America buying into cellphone/barcode interactive experience in a big way – but again it’s all about having the correctly outfitted cellphones. Maybe Google should think about a version of Android specifically geared towards teens.

[UPDATE]: CenterNetworks has the video of the event where Google spoke about these barcodes.