You may have noticed these square blocks showing up in some places on print media and wondered what was going on. This is known as a QR Code, short for "Quick Response" code. It is a 2D version of a Bar Code, and can contain much more information.
Originally developed for use with Inventory Control, this little square can contain Hyperlinks (such as the one on the left) that can be used in Print Media.
You may be asking yourself..."Why is this useful?". Imagine having a business card with a QR Code, or a Name tag, or a banner (or even a Billboard). The opportunity for passersby to simply click with their smartphone and collect and store your information for later retrieval is astonishing, to say the least. A smartphone user can click the above QR code and be launched to my website. I could also create a QR Code for my YouTube Channel, or even this blog.
You can create your own QR codes for use in print media and other areas (such as mobile coupons) at a number of sites, including http://qrcode.kaywa.com/.
Check out the following article for more examples: http://searchengineland.com/what-is-a-qr-code-and-why-do-you-need-one-27588
There are also colorful alternatives coming onto the scene that you may find of interest. For instance, Microsoft is developing a color version that allows for even more data capacity, and has some eye-appealing presentations. To get a look at some of these, check out the article here: http://searchengineland.com/microsoft-tags-a-compelling-alternative-to-qr-code-hyperlinks-52315
Print-based Hyperlinks - who woulda thunk?! The web is being integrated into our mobile lives and our lives are being intertwined with new ways of presenting information in a simple, yet powerful, format.
Can you foresee a day when you walk into an art gallery, click on a HCCB, and be able to watch the full time-lapse video of the history of a piece of artwork? Or click on a QR code at a billboard and be launched to a live webcam feed? Some interesting possiblities... wouldn't you agree?
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