Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, coming to deliver gifts to kids who scanned barcodes and e-mailed him their lists.
It's a catchy ditty, isn't it?
That may not be how the song goes, but everything else about Christmas seems to be getting a 21st-century update.
Case in point: Barcode Hero. An iPhone application that launched earlier this summer, it was originally created to help users share product recommendations through barcode scans. Now, it's latest update is going to help kids who would rather use a gizmo to connect with the big guy up in the North Pole than sit down with pencil and paper.
Barcode Hero's Holiday Wish List "encourages kids to create a wish list or two by scanning produce barcodes in stores or browsing products via the app," according to mashable.com.
After they've finished scanning their dream items, kids can send the list off to Santa, complete with pictures of all the toys their little hearts desire.
"Instead of sitting down in the living room with the children to write a letter to Santa on pencil and paper, Barcode Hero allows parents to make wish lists a modern, family-focused holiday activity, complete with photos," co-founder Blake School told mashable.com.
Kids scanning barcodes at the store to put together their holidays wish list may not scream "the magic of Christmas," but the app will help parents know exactly what their kids want. When the list is sent off to Santa, the app e-mails a copy to parents or guardians.
Still, not to be all Ho Ho Hold the progress, but isn't there something kind of sad about kids scanning barcodes? Then again, I'm sure elves are loving the idea.
Dave McGinn