QR Codes

Bridging the physical and virtual worlds with funny-looking barcodes.

Tristan Roddis, Cogapp

www.QRtists.com

What are QR codes?

2-D barcodes - more data in same space

Invented in Japan in 1994

Error tolerant

Alphanumeric up to 4,296 characters

Support for multiple parts

ISO standard

Similar to: Data Matrix, Shotcode, Quick code

Why are they special?

Because they can be decoded by mobile phones

Built in to many phones (esp. Japan)

Available for lots of others (http://qrtists.com/s)

[insert impressive statistic about mobile phone use here]

Demo

Generating QR codes

Websites

Firefox extension

Open source C program: qrencode

PHP/CGI

See list at http://qrtists.com/s

Uses of QR codes

Tracking objects

Business cards

Email sigs

Linking to websites

Adverts

Source: http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/04/movie-qr-code-and-kung-fu-high-school-girls/

Source: http://www.gearfuse.com/junkfood-maker-prints-qr-code-on-prawn-crackers/

Demo

Why is this more interesting?

Physical location maps to virtual location

Same input token provides different output (website maintains state)

Users can be tracked (cookies etc.)

Users provide information just by using the system (web 2.0 Holy Grail!)

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6938244.stm

Parting thoughts

Link up to dynamic websites

Use in different situations

Games

Ticketing concert example

Previewing music store example

Collecting - museum example

Need an open source reader!

Questions?

Tristan Roddis, Cogapp

www.QRtists.com