A method of requesting assistance relating to a product item including an associated interface surface having coded data indicative of the identity of the product item. The method includes: in a sensing device: sensing at least some of the coded data; generating indicating data indicative of the product item identity and a registration mode of the sensing device, at least some of the indicating data is generated using the sensed coded data; transferring the indicating data to a computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to cause provision of assistance; and in the computer system: receiving the indicating data; generating, using the received indicating data: identity data indicative of the identity of the product item; and mode data indicative of the registration mode; determining, using the identity data and the mode data, an assistance request; and, causing, using the assistance request, provision of the assistance.