Originally designed for industrial uses, QR codes have become common in consumer advertising. Smartphone users can use an app with a QR code scanner that can read a displayed code and convert it to a URL directing the smartphone’s browser to the website of a company, store, or product associated with that code providing specific information. QR code has become a focus of advertising strategy, since it provides quick and effortless access to the brand’s website. New codes may appear in magazines, on signs, on buses, on business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information. During the month of June 2011, according to one study, 14 million mobile users scanned a QR code or a barcode.
In June 2011, the Royal Dutch Mint (Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt) issued the world’s first official coin with a QR code to celebrate the centennial of its current building and premises. The coin was able to be scanned by a smartphone and link to a special website with contents about the historical event and design of the coin.[14] This was the first time a QR code was used on currency.
About QR code:
QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional bar code) first designed for the automotive industry in Japan. Bar codes are optical machine-readable labels attached to items that transmit information related to the item. Initially patented, its patent holder has chosen not to exercise those rights. Recently, the QR Code system has become popular outside the automotive industry due to its fast readability and greater storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes. The code consists of black modules (square dots) arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be made up of four standardized types (“modes”) of data (numeric, alphanumeric, byte / binary, Kanji), or through supported extensions, virtually any type of data
QR codes can be used to store a bank account information or a credit card information, or they can be specifically designed to work with a particular payment provider applications.
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