So this may seem a little off track now – but I think it will make sense after next week’s Byte. Until then you’ll just have to look at this as knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

What’s a QR Code?

Here’s the definition from Wikipedia: A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code  

Originally I think it was primarily used for tracking and inventory but the use has expanded and the popularity is growing as mobile tagging becomes bigger.

What’s mobile tagging?

Again from Wikipedia: Mobile tagging is the process of providing data on mobile devices, commonly through the use of data (such as a URL) encoded in a two-dimensional barcode, meant to be read and inputted using a camera phone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_tagging  

So if I produced a movie, I might create a poster that included a QR code in the corner so if someone liked the poster then could point their mobile phone at the code to see a clip of the movie online.

Kinda cool. Huh?