QR code is a field with black and white squares on it representing certain piece of information, like a barcode. This image is scanned by a smartphone, using QR code reading apps or camera app. QR code usually contains a text, URL, phone number, SMS or a vCard.
The main advantage of QR code is amount of information encoded in it. The standard barcode can hold up to 20 alphanumeric characters, while QR code holds 3000 alphanumeric, numeric, binary or Kanji characters.
QR codes were developed in 1994 by Denso Wave Corporate, Toyota’s subsidiary, to track vehicles and parts. The Quick Response code (QR for short) became rapidly popular in other departments, such as logistics, manufacturing, production and control of merchandise. The company made their development available for other companies and public to use. Other factories and shops needed improved barcode scanning system to manage their stock and overall productivity; Denso’s QR codes became the main tool in simplifying these processes.
Even though QR codes exist for over 25 years, only in last decade public use of them increased. With the rise of technology and usage of smartphones, QR codes became part of our digital lives. Because of its fast decoding speed, using QR code instead of regular typing takes only 1-2 seconds to load after scanning.
Marketing companies are using QR codes in their campaigns, and many individuals are utilising the tool in their professional portfolios and even on business cards.
Today the process of creating QR code is very simple. There are many free online QR codes generators, and the one recommended to me is GOQR.me, which I will be using in my FMP.
Links:
https://www.fastprint.co.uk/blog/quick-response-codes-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work.html
