Hi Peeps! If you already saw something like the picture shown below, that’s a QR-Code. It has been there for sometimes now and famous on mobile phones and web. The picture below says “Welcome to JeromeLocson.com”, if you have a decoder you should see that (http://mobilecodes.nokia.com (for Nokia devices only)). I created the image using Kaywa QR-Code Generator.

qrcode.png

So what are QR-Codes anyway and what’s it for?

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. QR Codes are common in Japan where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional code.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used in a much broader context spanning both commercial tracking applications as well as convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users. QR Codes storing addresses and URLs may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards or just about any object that a user might need information about. A user having a camera phone equipped with the correct reader software can scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. This act of linking from physical world objects is known as a hardlink or physical world hyperlinks and now termed an “Urban Bookmark” (as defined by TEQUILA\ London in 2006). A user can also generate and print their own QR Code for others to scan and use by visiting one of several free QR Code generating sites.

The Japanese standard for QR Codes, JIS X 0510, was released in January of 1999, and a corresponding ISO International Standard, ISO/IEC 18004, was approved in June of 2000.

“QR Code is open in the sense that the specification of QR Code is disclosed and that the patent right owned by Denso Wave is not exercised.”—from the Denso Wave website. The Japanese version of that site goes on to state, however, that the term QR Code itself is trademarked and that any publication or website using it must also include text that says “QR code is trademarked by Denso Wave, inc.”

[source]