When it comes to quick response codes, it’s one of those things you kinda need to see to really understand, so hit the link then come back…
… There. Seen it? That symbol made up of squiggly black and white lines? That’s a QR, “Quick Response” code. As CBS News said, “think of the QR code as the mobile equivalent of the barcode you see on things you buy at the supermarket.”
The Dan’s Hamptons tech blog explains that QR Code is “a matrix code, a two-dimensional bar code created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994.”
QR Codes storing addresses and URLs “may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or just about any object that users might need information about,” Dan’s Hampton says, adding that users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software “can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL.”
They can be read with a mobile phone’s camera and some basic software, to get stuff like coupons and other product information.
Natalie Del Conte explains that magazines use them “to get readers more current and interactive content such as polls, videos, blogs, and more,” and that if you scan them at retail stores you get coupons or can “buy items from the online version of the store.”
They can be used as virtual business cards, or to download stuff from movie and music Web sites. Sky’s the limit, really.
David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.
Edited by Marisa Torrieri