Run Programs from Pieces of Paper, and We’re Not Talking About Punch Cards

If you’re of a certain age, you may remember the days when it was common run computer programs stored on paper punch cards. I don’t, but my father is fond of talking about how he did so at the high school he walked to—up hill both ways, and in ten feet of snow. But, if you’re closer to my age, you might come up with something like Paper Programs to run paper-based programs.

Paper Programs is the brainchild of Jan Paul Posma. Really, the programs aren’t actually stored on the paper. Instead, sheets of paper are printed with special colored-dot patterns that correspond to programs stored on a Node.js and PostgreSQL server. When one of those paper sheets is placed in front of the Paper Programs camera, a computer vision system reads the dots and launches the right program.

But, that’s just one half of the system. The programs that are launched are JavaScript, and can do all of the usual JavaScript things you know and love. In addition to those things, graphics and animations can be overlaid on the paper using the Paper Programs projector. The final product isn’t particularly practical—nor is it intended to be—but, it’s definitely a fun and interactive use of technology and a physical medium.