Cell Phones as QR Code Readers

A Quick Response (QR) code consists of encoded information used in two-dimensions, such as in magazine advertisement, website promotion, product sales, discounts, and much more. Quick Response (QR) codes were originally created to track automotive parts for Toyota in Japan for commercial purposes. QR codes differ greatly from the traditional barcode in various ways. For instance, a barcode can only be read on the horizontal plane, whereas a QR code transmits data vertically in a grid of squares. Barcodes require special hardware in order to read the encoded information on the product itself. Conversely, QR codes can embed information in the code itself; therefore, it can perform different actions, such as launching a website or playing an audio file. QR codes also can be read with a smart-phone if a properly downloaded file exists to enable this function. QR technology has catapulted marketing capabilities to new heights by placing the accessibility of the embedded information directly into the consumer's hands. This form of convergence can help businesses evolve at a rapid pace.

Quick Response (QR) codes are found on everything nowadays. Consumers can spot a strange looking pixelated square box that looks similar to the modern UPC barcodes found on most offline purchases. QR codes can be implemented for both offline and online marketing purposes. QR readers, often smart-phones, can be used to decipher the encoded information within the QR code. Smartphone technology enables this feature because of its accessibility to the Internet, which makes downloading compatible software a possibility. Smartphone users only need to visit one of the QR decoder websites to download a suitable application in order to read, decipher, and use QR codes displayed in businesses and other venues.

These software applications are easy to download and activate for personal use. Smartphone technology can revolutionize the way businesses conduct marketing to their targeted niche groups. It can save on advertisement space, therefore, leading to bigger profits. Consumers can find the convenience of finding out more information about a product by simply pointing their smart-phone at a specific QR code and then engaging the software to retrieve it. This can expand business marketability without the unnecessary charges, since most QR codes are freely convertible online. Smart-phone users can find the best deals on featured items that non-users wouldn't have available to them.

Quick Response (QR) codes have the potential to replace the standard UPC barcodes located on most offline products. The easy accessibility and cost effectiveness of this marketability strategy will work in conjunction with most small business models. Large corporations can take advantage of these unique codes by targeting certain products to Android and iPhone users. This can help stimulate the economy on many fronts by saving advertisement revenues and expenses. Additionally, consumers will appreciate the added convenience of directing their smartphones at a particular item to find out more information. Some educational venues can use QR technology to help students find a higher education through more detailed instructions. QR codes can initiate audio tutorials and lectures, which can stimulate learning for students of all ages and grade levels. The overall cost of smart-phone technology would likely fall due to higher demands, which would lead to a broader consumer base.

In conclusion, QR codes and smart-phones work together in tandem to provide the most efficient means for marketing products and services. Interlinking the two technologies together will ensure a higher standard as modern society transitions into a more technological era. With the advent of paperless transactions and online financial banking, smart-phone technology could propel an economical and environmental alternative for advertising revenue. It could also introduce more learning materials readily available to students enrolled into higher education institutions. Prepare for a major shift in an already technologically-advanced society.


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