I’ve seeing more and more of these each week it seems and although it is a neat technology it still hasn’t reach critical mass in terms of adoption: The Quick Response Code.
If you’re not familiar with the tech, here’s an overview from Wiki:
A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.
Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (known as mobile tagging).
Makes sense and has high utility. Wonder why it really hasn’t been adopted as much…!
I think it’s just plain ugly but I don’t have a solution to that problem so I’m just griping I suppose. It’s like having a barcode on your site.
Ugly.
I will say though that when I do see them on sites via my mobile handset I always click them. Perhaps a new form of “advertising”?
Eh.
Kenny Jahng says
I’ve seen QR barcodes for years, but haven’t seen any really good uses so far.
Even if you have a QR reader app on your mobile phone (you can get one here: http://www.beetagg.com/), it’s kind of cumbersome to pull up the app and then scan the QR code.
Typing it into a web browser bar is much faster usually…Am I missing something?
Wes H says
I agree they are ugly, but the sites I have seen that have used them are blogs that review various apps for the Android OS. It is easy to read about the app on your desktop and then scan the QR code to bring the marketplace up to download the app.
I have also seen them used by Realtors in the Indy area. They put them next to their print ads to link to more info about a home.
Steven Rossi says
I think they’re pretty cool, but I’ve actually never seen one on any sort of ad in public. I would like them to become more popular, just because it’d be fun to go around scanning barcodes on posters.
Graham says
I’ve seen these little guys used as a boarding pass at the airport. The idea is that you just have it on your phone’s screen and just scan it at the security line where the guy in gloves looks at your license and scan it at the gate as you board the plane. I’ve used it once. It’s much easier to use on an iPhone where you can easily zoom in. Wasn’t very convenient on my BlackBerry Curve.
vajaah says
At BibleTech 2010, I met A. J. Wright from Mobile Ministry Magazine. He has one of these, less than fabulous barcodeAmaJigs, on the skin of his mobile device. It serves as a business card. He also uses them throughout his website so that users can grab mobile bookmarks and read his content on the go. My Nokia e71 only reads QR code occasionally, which often makes their purpose futile for me.