Ever been standing roadside hand in bag frantically searching for a pen, but alas moments too late as the web address you are still trying to recall has ever so quickly disappeared into the distance just like the tram, bus or billboard it was written on?
Well those days may soon be over. QR codes are new to many of us but are a part of everyday life in the streets of Europe and Asia where this peculiar technology first emerged. Relatively new, it was only in Japan 1994, that these maze like looking squares first made their debut. You may have seen them showing up more recently on phone directories or for the avid traveller at bus stops in Switzerland or promotional movie posters in Asia. You may find that in the near future the next time you fly your boarding pass will be in QR code. So, like most people you are probably wondering what are they and what are they used for? QR codes are a combination of squares assorted in an original pattern in a square, get it? No? Well take a look at the funny looking square on our February Ezine bottom corner, that's a QR code! Take a photo of it with your mobile phone camera and it will take you to the website address without you having to write or type in a single letter.
Most new mobile phones are QR code compatible but you may need to make sure you download software and activate it on your phone.
So even if you have no access to a computer, being able to jump onto the website that just took your interest is still possible. No pen, no problem. Soon all you will need is to take a mobile photo of the QR code and it will take you to that website, bus timetable, movie trailer, promotional offer and so on.
So who can benefit from this technology? Advertisers, corporates and even education sectors find QR codes of significant interest. They can track how many hits to a particular QR code whether it's on a poster, in the marketplace or on course information.In particular, for people with a disability QR codes allow easier access to technology, allowing for greater access to information and an increased ability to communicate. In training and education, QR codes can be used to provide information on courses, teacher profiles, schedules, eLearning, opening new doors to mLearning and accessing assessment results. That is just to name a few uses in our industry.
Most recently Aspin Group Industry Trainer and eLearning specialist Graham Clark, has received a grant from Telematics to research, explore and further develop this technology.
For more details on QR codes go to: http://www.slideshare.net/odoardo/converge08-presentation
