Retail Refugees

You may have seen some black and white squares with pixels randomly floating around inside and have asked yourself… “what are these things?!” Well, they are QR Codes. QR Codes are an alternative to barcodes. They work in the same way in that they are 2-dimensional, and although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes, which stand for “Quick Response Codes,” are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users. QR Codes storing addresses and URLs may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards or just about any object that a user might need information about. A user having a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. Using one of many sites, individuals or consumers can create their own QR codes for a variety of purposes QR Code Generator. Once you have downloaded the code reader from Kaywa scan the box above and see where it takes you

Recently, QR codes have been popping up around the world in advertisements, business cards, and other places in new and exciting ways. Brands are realizing that they can reach a new generation of techno-saavy consumers through these codes. See below the Houston Fence in NYC (between Houston and Broadway). It is a temporary outdoor installation that feateures ads, online content, blogs, websites, and other assorted content that can be read by pedestrians and cyclists passing by.

I think that QR Codes have the potential to make a serious impact on the consumer world of today and tomorrow, especially with the retail industry. Retailers should be creative in developing innovative and original ways to utilize this inexpensive (free!) technology. Below are some examples:

The best way to explain to people who don’t think QR codes are that big of a deal and think they are a bit geeky;

“Think of QR codes as a right mouse button to anything physical. Anything you want ‘more information about’ just click.”

Once you think about them this way it opens up new ideas.

If you want to see what else a qr code can be made to do apart from just openening a browser go to this site;

http://www.Cognation.net/QR where I have a 60 second overview for dummies.

You can also check out my other QR blog posts using this link http://deancollinsblog.blogspot.com/search?q=qr

Cheers,
Dean
BTW Free is definitely the best part about it

Comment by dean collins September 2, 2008 @ 5:13 pm

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You can read more about QR codes here
http://www.qrme.co.uk/qr-code-news.html

Comment by Ian Foster February 22, 2009 @ 7:05 pm

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