Conf_Ad_CMYK.qxp 10/6/2011 11:26 AM Page 114
QR Codes are gaining popularityby: Paula Johnson, Technology & Design FacilitatorQR (Quick Response) codes have been popping upeverywhere you look lately... You see them on businesscards, in magazines, on storefront windows, and even oncoffee mugs.What are they?QR codes are a 2D barcode that can store up to 7,089numeric characters. They are similar to UPC codes, inthat they are scanned by using a scanning device. Theonly difference between the two are that UPC codes canonly be read in one direction, limiting the informationthey can store.Where did they come from?QR codes were created more than15 years ago by a company calledDenso Wave, Inc. They created thesecodes as a method for tracking andmanaging parts for Toyota vehicles inJapan. Denso did not trademark thetechnology, which led to its use allover the world.What are they used for?The better question these days shouldbe what aren’t they used for?! QR codes are used for avariety of things, including ticketing, product marketing,entertainment, product labeling and more. QR codestarget mobile phones - or smart mobile phones - andnow with the introduction of iPads, QR codes are beingseen and used more and more. The information theystore can include a text, a vCard contact, and websiteURLs. Anyone with a camera enabled device and aQR code reader application can grab a snapshot of thecode and pull up an array of information. A quick websearch will give you a variety of QR code generatorsthat can be downloaded, so that you can create yourown QR codes. Some are free, and some are not. Theycan be used in Google’s Android system, via their ownGoogle Goggles app, or even 3rd party generators likeKaywa (http://qrcode.kaywa.com/) or Zxing (http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/).How can they be used in the classroom?There are an unlimited number of ways that QR codescan be used in the classroom. If a teacher has a websitethat the students or parents can access to get homeworkor lesson information, the teacher can create a QRcode so that when it is scanned, the website addressimmediately pops up.How about a video tour of a classroom? Upload thevideos to a website, and then point the QR code to theURL and the users instantly have access to your videos.One school on the east coast is using it in theiryearbook publishing class. Events that normallywon’t make the yearbook because they happen afterthe school’s yearbook is printed, can be given a QRcode that has the capability of being “managed”. Forexample - the schools’ prom, awards banquet, andgraduation ceremony all happened after the yearbookwas published. The students were able to includecoverage from these events and instead of just using stillpictures, they were able to include videos as well. Inorder for them to publish a QR code for a future eventthey needed to use a QR code management site suchas BeeTagg (http://manager.beetagg.com/) or SnapVu (http://snap.vu). Theywere able to create the code, but werealso able to edit the code’s destinationonce the event happened. The initialdestination, when scanned, took theuser to a random YouTube video, butonce the event took place, the managerallowed them to change the destinationto the correct web location and videos ofthe events without having to regeneratethe code. So the next time the codewas snapped by a device, the user sawpictures and video of the events.How can Local Government Use QR Codes?There are multiple uses for QR codes as a way toextend information to citizens. Place them on signsand buildings in and around your ball fields, providinginformation on your sport leagues. Have the QR codeopen a video or website pushing your sports programs.Post a sign on your rental pavilions that has a QR codegiving a park goer all the information they need toreserve it. Have it lead the park goer to a mobile friendlysite that explains your rates, rules, information andpossibly the pavilion availability.Use QR codes in your print marketing materials. In anewsletter, use it to link to web pages that explain indetail the information you are trying to convey in thearticle. In your event flyers, provide information aboutparking details, entertainment bios and even videocommercials of the event itself.Use QR codes on your buildingpermit on-site placards. Have it leadthe scanner to a website or PDFdetailing the project. This will helpinform the neighbors of exactlywhat is taking place on the particularproperty.QR codes are picking up steam all over the world...what would you use a QR code for?FirewallChats Over theA column on technology topics of the day15