POST SEVEN - QR Codes

QR Codes

QR codes are a two-dimensional barcode which can be read by the majority of smartphones and dedicated devices. QR codes are used in a wide scope from products, brands to anything else. Standard 1D barcodes store up to 30 numbers but QR codes can store up to 7,089. This huge amount of data allows linking to videos, websites and social media pages.

 

If you possess a smartphone such as an iPhone, android or Blackberry device, there are a wide number of applications such as Red Laser and QR scanner that allow the reading and decoding of QR codes. The majority of such applications are free and simply need to be installed and work directly with the mobile phone camera.

 

Any URL can be encoded into a QR code which in simple terms can be understood as an image form of a hyper-link. In addition to URL address, QR codes can also be used to link to telephone numbers. Similarly you can encode an SMA, C-card data or plain alphanumeric text. QR codes can be printed onto anything, newspapers, business cards or even tattoos.

You can make a QR code using designated 2D QR code generators which are free to use online. QR codes can be various sizes a larger code is easier to read though and as a minimum, most readers can scan images which are small enough to fit onto a business card.

There are various QR code formats:

• ·         HTML
• ·         PNG
• ·         TIFF
• ·         SVG
• ·         EPS

PNG files work the best because they are universal and can be easily resized and rescaled to fit multiple platforms.

A little bit of history for the QR code, Denso-Wave a subsidiary of the Toyota group are given the award for creating the QR code way back in 1994. Its original intent was to be used as a tracking mechanism for motor vehicles part

There are other 2D barcode reading formats;

• Microsoft – Microsoft have a reader known as High Capacity Colour Barcode allowing ways tag customisation and dynamic data source changing.
•  Data Matrix – Is able to read codes even if they are as small as 2mm. It is commonly used on small electrical components.
• EZcode – The data in this case is not stored within the code but on the Scanbuy server. A code indexed is transferred from the mobile device to the server and receives information in return. The problem with this system is that it is reliant solely on the servers.