Wondering What a QR Code Is?

‘QR’ stands for Quick Response. It is a two-dimensional barcode that can store a link, plain text, SMS text message, addresses, URL, Geo location, e-mail, phone number, your contact information is used for ‘quick connections’ (response) between static (a business card for example) and online content.

You scan the QR using one of the widely available free apps downloaded and installed on your smartphone (eg iPhone, HTC, Blackberry etc) and in the case of the treasure hunt, a piece of text with a clue pops up on your phone.

We like them because they allow you to connect the real world to the online digital world easily. There is something so satisfying when your phone beeps or vibrates with pleasant satisfaction when the code is read by the clever little app installed on your mobile. They are beginning to gain popularity in the UK and across Europe as people realise the potential of these black and white images to quickly connect the physical with the digital.

The biggest issue is they can seem a little dull in their design. This blog post by the QRazy peeps, has a fantastic gallery of QR code images, with great examples of how QR codes can be made to look less ‘boring’, ‘ugly’ or plain as I’ve heard them called many times before. In fact there are some QR code artists out there creating some amazing QR art. We’ll be updating our blog very soon with some of our very own QR code artists. We can’t reveal them yet of course, because the artwork we have would give away some of the clues to our forthcoming events!