What Are QR Codes?

Street Art Dealer uses lots of QR Codes.

A QR (Quick Response) Code is a two-dimensional bar code intended to contain information which can be scanned quickly and easily by electronic devices. The images above and on the front of this flyer are examples of QR Codes.

QR Codes are hugely popular in Japan and rapidly gaining popularity in the US but their use is much rarer here in the UK. We aim to start to change that by raising awareness and adoption of this simple but extremely useful technology.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications (most commonly seen on delivery notes used by many parcel couriers) and on applications aimed at mobile phone users.

Particularly common are QR Codes that contain contact information and website links. These can be used as electronic business cards or simply to direct you to a particular website, often a unique web page that contains useful or fun information especially meant to relate back to the positioning of the QR Code. But they are also apprearing on just about any object that users might need information about.

Anyone equipped with a camera phone and QR Code Reader software can scan a QR image and access the information it contains. Many new mobile phones come with this software already installed but nearly all camera phones have software available that's easily downloaded and installed.

Once installed the application will allow you to open your camera and take a photo of a code, then it will 'read' the code and present you with the results. In the case of website links it will usually display the website address and ask if you would like your phone browser to connect to the internet to access the online content.