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Quick Response codes are really just super-charged two-dimensional (2D) matrix barcodes that have the ability to hold a lot of information. Their practical ease of use has made them highly popular in Japan - where they were originally used in the early 1990s to track vehicles during the manufacturing process - and increasingly in Europe. This is expected to lead to their widespread implementation in the United States.

QR codes are all about sharing information, especially on mobile platforms. Scanning or reading a QR code with a camera-enabled smartphone - such as an iPhone, Blackberry, or Android - allows the user to immediately link to whatever the code creator specifies in the code, such as multimedia Internet content, a Web browser, or phone functions such as SMS, Instant Messages, or e-mail. All that is required is to have a QR code reader application installed on the intended user’s smartphone. Many new smartphones already come standard with QR reader technology, so this extra step is often not required. If QR reader technology does not come built-in, such software is available for most mobile platforms.

Where QR codes can be placed, and the reasons they are being placed there, are as varied as they are limitless. For example:

  • A QR code placed on product packaging or a point-of-sale receipt could automatically link the buyer’s smartphone to a page on the company website where they can register the warranty and receive valuable coupons that they can redeem instantly in the store.
  • The QR coded image could also automatically access customer service and support phone numbers or direct the buyer to other online sources or companies offering replacement parts or complementary products.
  • A QR code placed on the front or back of a business card could, when scanned, transfer all the information on the card to the contact list of a smartphone and allow the user to phone or email that business card contact immediately.
  • A QR code placed on a newsletter, brochure, or other marketing materials could link the reader to company resources for specific information, including sales contact phone numbers, real-time price lists and services, and directions to a company’s location.
  • A QR code could also provide instant access to emergency phone numbers or procedures. It could automatically connect the user to emergency resources or disaster measures, or to backup and installation procedures.

Keep your eyes open for this added enhancement on the Duswalt Newsletters coming in March. Nothing will change with the newsletters, however, if you have a mobile device with a camera (smart-phone, tablets, some computers), you will be able to scan the QR Code for additional information on a particular topic.