Quick Response (QR) Codes are Awesome!
My QR Code- Scan It and See!
QR (Quick Response) Codes are a two-dimensional matrix barcode format that were first developed by the Japanese Corporation Denso-Wave for manufacturing. However, because of the speed of reading these types of codes by convential devices, especially cameras, they have come into widespread use in Japan as a way to quickly exchange information. Thanks to the growing popularity of the iPhone and Android phones in the U.S. they are becoming more widespread for use in the west as well!
There are a number of apps both in iTunes and in the Android market that enable the camera to read barcodes. What you may not know is that QR codes are a quickly developing mobile standard that are specifically being taken over for use by mobile smart phones. I know some of my family have already begun using mobile boarding passes for air travel, which incorporate QR Codes. Additionally you can pass contact information, URLs, calendar information, even secure WiFi network access with a QR Code! QR Code reading is even built into many Android devices, allowing for instant browser redirection, instantly calling or emailing a contact, or instantly connecting to a wireless network!
Today, I discovered QR codes, and when I realized their scope, I was astounded. Put a QR Code on business cards so people can import your contact info directly? Absolutely! Get some stickers with your wireless access info and place them on routers? What a great way to securely ensure that everyone can easily get your wireless details without having to look for a post-it somewhere! How about in the real world? Well, this is already being used for coupons, virtual augmentation in magazines, even on outdoor advertisements and store fronts! All you need is a camera and some software to read these things!
Imagine a game that used these codes in real life. Talk about a really great scavenger hunt! Just encode position location information into the QR codes, and when people scan it they can find the next way point. Otherwise they can “collect” goods in a larger role playing game. Because these codes can be read off of screens, they can be generated by computers on the go, no need for stickers!
I just discovered that I can in fact share any contact or calendar information on my phone with my Barcode Scanner app because it will automatically generate a QR code for me. If you do want stickers, though- Moo will make a pack of 90 for you for only $9.99. What an awesome thing!
Looking for my contact information? Find it here: http://bengfort.com/scan/
Want to generate your own QR Codes? Go here: http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/
Want to print some stickers? Use Moo: http://uk.moo.com/en/products/stickers.php
Android App: use Barcode Scanner by Zxing http://code.google.com/p/zxing/wiki/GetTheReader
iPhone App: use Barcodes by Zxing http://itunes.apple.com/app/barcodes/id292197557?mt=8
About The Author
Benjamin
Graduate Student and Instructor at NDSU
Other posts byBenjamin
Author's web sitehttp://www.bengfort.com
Try Lynkee is a player compatible with over 300 devices, 1D and 2D code http://tag2d.com
So I have just tried the iPhone app on Mike’s phone- both of them seem pretty unfortunate, especially when compared to the Android version. The Android version greys out all but a small view finder in the camera, and adds a blinking red bar code to assist the scan finder. Because the app has access to the camera in real time, the scan even takes place in the camera mode! The iPhone app only has access to the output of the camera- so you have to take a picture, then send it back to the app. Unfortunately, if you take a bad picture, you have to try again, and again, … and again. Whereas with Android, you just keep moving the camera around until it scans. For now, with this technology, the Android app is the clear winner.
I used the United e-boarding pass! It actually worked really well and gave me one less thing to worry about losing (two, even, since I would have had two boarding passes for a flight and a connection). I would probably opt for paper if it were a trip I wanted to remember–I like to use ticket stubs for bookmarks–but this particular flight was not that sort of travel.
Yep, I downloaded Lynkee for my Blackberry 9700 on m.lynkee.com and it’s indeed awesome. I tested all popular readers as nigma, neo, betagg…and all have some detection, ergonomics or crash issues (at least on my bold).