You could have seen these recently in several places, you could have often heard people talking about them in the arena of mobile and wondered exactly what the heck they’re. Quick response codes (called “qr code service” codes) are a very convenient way to display a small bit of information that is effortlessly scanned and processed typically by phones allowing physical items to almost become interactive, by providing information which is effortlessly scanned like a web page URL.

To make a simpler analogy, most people are aware of Universal Product codes (described as UPC codes). Everything you buy at the grocery store (and almost any store currently) has one of those that the cashier will scan. The computer then immediately knows just what the product is according to the code that it picked up.

Does anyone remember the days of grocery shopping as well as the cashier had to punch within the prices and codes for every single item you purchased. They had to memorize the majority of these within their head and should they forgot? They had to pick up the loud mobile device, make an announcement within the store asking for someone in that department to help them to out.

Think of QR codes as UPC codes but instead they are employed in a significantly broader spectrum, not simply to ‘identify’ products but to convey ‘information’ of some kind.

The most basic (and popular use) of Quick Response codes is to display website information (a site address). Lets say you’re at a trade show and you are walking by my booth. You want to find out more information about my company, so you get into your smartphone and start fumbling away trying to type in certain long URL (that’s on my display) into your browser, and off you go.

Another option would be for me to display a QR code (on my display), you take your smartphone and scan it the same as cashiers scan items at the supermarket, and your mobile device automatically starts loading my website, how is the fact that for convenience?

What about billboards outside on the street, or bus shelters while waiting for public transport. You can place these little codes anywhere. People who free scanners on their mobile devices (iPhones, BlackBerrys, Androids, Nokia, etc.) can quickly scan the code and find out additional information, like opening up a site.

Whole Foods Market (popular within the US/Canada) uses these within their stores. I was recently sitting down to possess a bite to eat at the one in Yorkville Toronto, and also on the table where I was sitting was a table tent with two Quick Response codes. It was obvious where they might take me if I scanned them, one would take me to their Twitter account, and the other would take me to their Facebook page.

If I was interested in checking out their Twitter or Facebook page, rather than opening up each respective app and going to the search function and typing in their name etc. (I likely would not, too much effort) I could pick up my mobile phone, scan the QR code and automatically open each page!