You might have seen these recently in various places, you may have often heard people talking about them in the arena of mobile and wondered exactly what the heck they can be. Quick response codes (known as “QR” codes) are a very convenient way to display a small bit of information which is conveniently scanned and processed typically by smartphones allowing physical items to almost become interactive, by providing information that is easily scanned like a web page URL.

To make a simpler analogy, almost all people are aware of Universal Product codes (called UPC codes). Everything you buy at the supermarket (and almost any store these days) has one of those that the cashier will scan. The computer then immediately knows exactly what the product is according to the code which it picked up.

Does anyone remember the days of grocery shopping and the cashier had to punch within the prices and codes for each and every item you purchased. They had to memorize these types of within their head and whenever they forgot? They had to pick up the loud smart phone, make an announcement within the store asking for someone in that department to help them out.

Think of QR codes as UPC codes but rather they’re utilized in a lot broader spectrum, not only 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 web page address). Lets say you are at a trade show and you’re walking by my booth. You want to find out further information about my company, so you get into your smart phone and start fumbling away trying to type in certain long URL (which is on my display) into your browser, and off you go.

Another option would be for me to display a qr code service code (on my display), you take your mobile device and scan it just like cashiers scan items at the supermarket, and also your phone automatically starts loading my website, how is that for convenience?

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

Whole Foods Market (popular in 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, as well as on the table where I was sitting was a table tent with two Quick Response codes. It was obvious where they will take me if I scanned them, one would take me to their Twitter account, as well as the other would take me to their Facebook page.

If I was serious about checking out their Twitter or Facebook page, rather than opening up each respective app and going to the search function and typing within their name etc. (I likely wouldn’t, too much effort) I could pick up my smartphone, scan the QR code and automatically open each page!