Online with Erin: Understanding QR codes

We all know what a bar code is, but what about a QR code? Don't feel bad if you don't know what this box of little squares is - they're just starting to catch on in the United States, even though they've been used widely in Japan for years.
QR stands for quick response, and it promises to be the next big thing in advertising and informaiton.
QR codes aren't scanned by the checkout person at a store, they're scanned by you, with the help of your cellphone.
Do an internet image search, and you can find hundreds of examples of QR codes.
Digital Development Director at HC Miller, Thomas Clifford, says that unlike regular bar codes that you'll see on your soda can that can have ten to twelve characters, QR codes can have upwards of a thousand characters. Clifford even has a QR code on his business card.
You can see these codes online, on television, in magazines and in store windows. Just read the QR code with your cellphone, and it will take you to a website with more information. In fact, Clifford says QR codes were in use at a recent emerging technology conference in Austin, Texas.
Says Clifford, " They had the QR codes on their name badges, so you don't have to say, 'Hi, I'm Erin Davisson, here's my business card. You can say, 'Hi, I'm Erin Davisson, take a picture of my QR code' It automatically goes into your contacts book, you don't have to spend time retyping everything."
And among their uses - QR codes can give a new meaning to the idea of 'window shopping".
Noted fashion designer Norma Kamali says, "If there's a style in the window that you really like, customers can shop directly from the bar code. So if it's after six, you can shop without anybody and do it on your own."
The same idea works for any retail outlet. And restaurants can post the QR code that will take customers, not only to the menu, but to the website and videos with more information - even current sales and promotions.
Magazine ads use QR codes to send customers to their video ads, and television news shows can display codes instead of asking viewers to remember long URL's.
And you can create your own QR codes. Google has plenty of sites that will let you input information and it will spit out a code for your use.
Once you know that QR codes exist, you will start seeing them everywhere. You can be prepared by downloading a smartphone app- usually free - that will work with your phone's camera to read the code, and instantly take you to a website with more information. I've been usnig the Bar Code scanner for Android, but these QR code reader apps are also available for the iPhone and your Blackberry as well. What's your QR code?

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• tommytrc
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• erin
• davisson
• tom
• clifford
• qr
• codes
• quick
• response
• google
• SXSW

[tommytrc]

@lalacoolgirls I'm glad I was able to teach a little along the way.... @typertist is a great share'er and I appreciate the love!

[lalacoolgirls]

Thank yo so much for the new info.. I truly didn't know. I have seen these QR codes on the newspaper, and thought it was a trademark.. (my ignorance) Thank you so much for the share.. @typertist was kind enough to post it on the Formspring answer for greatest inspiration :o) The best of luck!