A system and method for recognizing symbols and identifying users or services, including the displaying of an image or video clip on a display device in which identification information is embedded in the image or video clip, the capturing the image or video clip on an imaging device, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the imaging device to a communication network, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the communication network to a processing and authentication server, the processing of the information embedded in the image or video clip by the server to identify logos, alphanumeric characters, or special symbols in the image or video clip, and converting the identified logos or characters or symbols into a digital format to identify the user or location of the user or service provided to the user, and the using of the processed information in digital format to provide one or more of a variety of additional applications.