What is a QR Code and why would you use one?

I was doing a little bit of research on QR (Quick Response) Codes today.  QR Codes are 2D images similar to the barcodes you see on products scanned at stores.  However, QR Code images can store much more data – 7,089 characters vs. 20 digits for regular barcodes. Typically, QR Codes would be scanned by people via mobile devices from printed material in the real world: posters, signs, products, locations, magazines, etc.

Because the concept primarily involves scanning via mobile phones, Asian countries have adopted the concept more readily, like other more advanced mobile functions such as mobile payments. The QR Code concept hasn’t quite caught on in the US, as far as I’ve noticed.

What would you store on a QR Code? Well, most likely links to promotional websites or coupons. But, website http://mobile-barcodes.com has a free QR Code generator that allows you to easily encode a VCard (electronic business card), a message, a phone number, an email, or an SMS-ready message.  And, of course, a website link could just as direct someone to an image or other file type like an MP3.

According to a Fast Company article earlier this year, there were QR Codes on conference badges and other promotional materials at the South by Southwest conference, presumably with the badge holder’s personal contact information.

At least two articles suggest that Facebook has been experimenting with QR Codes for user profiles/statuses:

• http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/16/facebook-qr-code/
• http://www.lostremote.com/2010/03/16/is-facebook-about-to-go-qr-code-crazy/

There are free apps out there for the major mobile handsets (iPhone, Windows Mobile, Nokia, BlackBerry, Android); just do a search for “QR Code”, “QR Reader”, or “Barcode Scanner”.

In doing this research, I remembered that I happened to snap a picture of a QR Code with my iPhone at the Revision3 office a few weeks ago.  I knew enough to know what the QR Code image was, but didn’t have an app installed at the time. It totally slipped my mind until today.  Well, I got a good laugh at what the QR Code revealed, but don’t want to ruin the surprise for other geeks who happen to run across it. Maybe if enough people ask, I’ll update this post…

If you want to read more about QR Codes, here are a few more links:

• All About QR Codes: http://www.mobile-barcodes.com
• Business Tips for using QR Codes: http://2d-code.co.uk/three-rules-of-qr-codes/

Creatively Integrated Ad Banners – Tomb Raider

OK, so who really likes ad banners… especially ones that slow down your site page load times!

I have to at least give the gaming industry credit for trying – granted their ads are more targeted and cater well to their audience, but I’ve seen a handful of ads that interact with the page in compelling ways.

A few months ago there was one that Martin shared where a 3D-rendered soldier (from some shooter game) broke through a few ad and content areas and ended up in another ad’s picture of a hottub with some chickas. (Unfortunately, I can’t find this one, and it’s probably the best of this bunch.)

Then there was the Wario (a Mario game character) ad on YouTube where the gameplay shook and broke up the page.

The latest one involves Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft breaking up the page (“pull” the ring in the banner ad).

Although all of these are specialized landing pages, rather than interacting on ‘real’ pages, at least they are trying to do something interesting for all the bandwidth they are sucking.