Computer operation control and item selection and vending methods and systems

A method comprising:

• capturing, by a first computing device, data decoded based on an image of a product identifier, said image including image indicia that uniquely identifies a product, the image displayed on a display device communicatively coupled to the first computing device;
• sending said data decoded based on the image of the product identifier from the first computing device to a second computing device over a communications network;
• and
• receiving, by the first computing device from said second computing device over the communications network, data indicative of the product, the product having been identified by the second computing device based on said image indicia, the data usable to request images of items corresponding to the product over the Internet for display on the display device.

A computing device comprising a scanner, a memory, and a processor;

• the computing device configured to:
• scan an image of a product identifier while displaying the image on a display device communicatively coupled to the computing device;
• send data indicative of decodable information represented by said image to a second computing device over a communications network;
• and
• receive, from said second computing device over the communications network, data indicative of at least one product, the at least one product identified based on said product identifier, the data usable to request images of items corresponding to the at least one product over the Internet for display on the display device.

An item selection communication method, comprising:

• causing display of an image on a computer screen, said image including decodable information indicative of one or more products and at least including a portion of a store environment including products for sale;
• causing a search of a database for products pertaining to the decodable information;
• in response to a selection of one of the products receiving a list of at least one item associated with said displayed image, wherein the images of the products are received over the Internet;
• and
• receiving a selection from among the list.

An item selection communication method, comprising:

• causing display of an image on a computer screen associated with a first computer, said image including image indicia defining decodable information indicative of one or more items;
• causing a database to be searched for data pertaining to the decodable information, the data usable to request images of products corresponding to the decodable information over the Internet for display on the computer screen;
• and
• causing communication of at least a portion of said data pertaining to the decodable information over a communications network to a second computer in response to selection of identifier indicia, said selection indicative of an order for a selected item.