QR code

QR code

(Quick Response code) A two-dimensional matrix bar code that is used to identify products. It can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric or 7,089 numeric characters. Depending on the level of error correction applied, it can restore from seven to 30% of the missing data.

Created by Japanese Denso Wave, Inc. and standardized by ISO, Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), JEIDA and AIM, QR codes are increasingly used to identify the URL of a company's Web site so that mobile phone users can photograph the code and retrieve information about the organization. Some companies have created billboard-sized QR codes for this purpose. To promote the use of its Android phone visual search application, in 2009, Google sent more than 100,000 custom-coded QR codes to U.S. establishments. It suggested they place the code in a prominent location for "mobile tagging." See bar code and Google Goggles.

Roll Your Own
To create your own QR code, visit the Kaywa QR code generator at http://qrcode.kaywa.com.

QR Codes

QR codes can contain a phone number, text message, plain text or a URL (examples above are the URL www.computerlanguage.com). QR codes are identified by the four squares with dots in the middle (red arrows), used for alignment. The horizontal and vertical lines (highlighted in yellow) that alternate light and dark are also alignment symbols.

In a Restaurant Window

Taking a picture of the QR bar code in the restaurant's window (top) with a mobile tagging app downloads reviews and other information.