Barcode technology is common around the world as it provides convenient way of reading information off a pattern of vertical lines, using a barcode reader often called a barcode gun. This works as there is some information already stored against barcode stickers present mainly on packaging of consumer goods, but it requires specialised software and hardware to print barcodes, stored information against them such as product name and price, and then read or print this information as done in many of the local stores.Today, we are going to show how a similar mechanism can be developed at home, using only a home computer and an ordinary mobile phone equipped with a camera. This mechanism is called QR or Quick Response code — a two dimensional black and white code comprised of box patterns and can be used to represent any text. What makes it different and better than traditional barcode is the fact that anyone can easily ‘encode’ any text, web address, phone number or SMS using free online tools by simply entering the required information to generate an image file containing a pattern called QR code. This image filecan be ‘decoded’ by any mobile phone with camera having a QR code scanning application which is also freely available.

Let’s get started and see how this works. Visit qrcode.kaywa.com — a free QR code generator; enter your email address (or any other text) in the ‘Content’ field after selecting ‘Text in Content Type’ and press ‘Generate’ button followed by selecting code size which can vary from small to extra large which is simply a matter of preference.

The image that’s generated can now be saved and used in multiple scenarios, say in a personal blog, in an email signature oreven printed on a document or envelop. Now in order to read this code, download Kaywa reader using the link at top right corner on the same page or by visiting reader.kaywa.com.

There are other QR code scanner applications available as well, such as ones listed at mobile-barcodes.com. For Java phones, download the application which is simply a file having extension JAR and copy it to phone using Bluetooth or visiting the websites directly from the phone. These applications can read QR code images using phone camera which makes it easy to glean information off a web page by simply focusing the phone camera against computer display. The sample code created above having email address can be read in the same way. The email address thus fetched can be saved in phone as new contact or if it was a web address, mobile phone’s browser can be used to visit the site without the user having to type in the web address manually.

And this particular usage of QR codes is now getting popular in nearly all major mobile application stores for instance, GetJar.com. Along with application’s direct download links, a QR code image with an encoded web address is also present with each application and can be read by mobile phone camera directly.

QR code is a great way to experiment with a number of uses. Though developed way back in mid 90s in Japan, QR code remained largely obscure until the recent boom in the telecommunication industry. There can be a number of creative uses of QR code, such as placing a QR code image on visiting cards, on identification documents and school bags, etc. QR code can be used to convert over 4,000 character long text which means not only product names or prices can be placed behind the pattern of boxes, but even longer items like product descriptions, short reviews or SMS messages can be coded in a small pattern box.

Marketing companies have also started to make use of QR codes in print ads so that readers do not have to type in phone numbers to make inquiry calls and have also started to put these codes up on shop windows for consumers so that they can save basic product description and shop phone number in their phones without even having to walk inside the shop.

Happy coding!