What are QR Codes and how to use them
QR codes or “Quick Response codes” are encrypted code consisting of black modules grouped in a square with a white background color. It’s a type of Matrix Barcode or a two dimensional code which can be encoded with various data.
The QR codes were originally designed by a subsidiary of Toyota in 1994 for the purpose of tracking vehicles during manufacturing.
With the arrival of intelligent mobile phones, more commonly referred to as Smart Phones, QR codes have increased in popularity because of it’s high speed readability and surprisingly large storage capabilities. The codes where designed for high speed decoding of data.
These two dimensional barcodes can be encoded with such applications as a website address, a text message, discount coupons, phone number, SMS message, contest and much more. The encoded application doesn’t just show the website address or the phone number, but implements a call to action.
How to use QR Codes
The way to use or read QR Codes is by way of a smartphone or intelligent phone and it’s built-in camera. If you own an iPhone from Apple you can download anyone of their barcode scanner applications. On the Android phones they have an application called “Barcode Scanner” which you can download from their app store. Once you have downloaded the application, all you have to do is start the application and point your camera towards the QR Code as seen below:
Once the image is captured within the perimeters of the camera, the application automatically scans the image and sends you to a web page, a Facebook fan page, an image, a coupon, well you get the point. QR Codes have increased in usage by 1600% in 2010, so they’re here to stay.
