QR-Code

This morning we saw a link on Youtube that said “All the experience on your mobile Youtube” and curiosity made us click and…  Whoa! 1st Youtube QR-Code.

Heavy-usage of videos on mobiles is more than just a trend and the leader has already given the green light.

Highlights of the launch:

1. Youtube has gone for a mobile Web and not an application. The first time you visit the site Youtube explains how to create a desktop icon using the phone bookmark system.
2. HTML5 vs  Flash . HTML5 based mobile web with an excellent interface, look&feel and usability on smartphones. HTML5 will knock out .flv Flash. THE END.
3. QR-Codes are used on screen to link the mobile browser to the mobile site.

These three items have been matters of discussion and speculation over the past 1-2 years. It seems that common sense has prevailed over particular interests.

Source: youtube.com

From qrcode.es we celebrate in a special way this news for all it implies (specially the triumph of common sense) and we do not doubt that it is just the beginning of a long run of youtube using QRCodes in more sections of their web. For example: help user to promote their own videos on physical supports (fliers, postcards, etc…)  in the real world printing codes. “QR-Code Print for linking to your video.”

Think! Youtube people are smarter than you (and me, of course). If they have made these decisions, why aren’t you using QRCodes yet?

The following QRs are direct download links to the 2D code reader i-nigma through major download platforms for mobile apps.We are noticing that several websites are using QR-Codes (thanks LoBo ) to direct users to download applications for their smartphones:

• http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/tools/inigma_flmy.html?nav=toomuchdownloads
• http://www.unandroideenvodafone.com/2010/03/3dbicing-bicing-android-realidad-aumentada/

On this page we see three different ways to download an application: http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/tools/inigma_flmy_download.htmlThis reinforces recent statistics that we recently read in Marsh Internet Research in Japan (via translation and Roger ). Data is not very unrepresentative, however it points out trends and behaviors.Although a QR-Code on the screen may initially seem an application without much sense (”If I’m on the internet what do I want a QR for?”) the concept of “Capture and download”, either on paper or on screen, opens up many possibilities and who knows if even new business models. We think it does.

Today we found out via Roger 2d code that the Madison Square Garden in New York has placed a 100 feet/30 meters QR-Code advertising the premiere of the movie Great Dino Roar. The code links to the mobile version of the film’s website where you can buy tickets.

We can say it more times (since we started this blog the number of results in Google when searching QR-Code has increased from 2M to +27M of results) but the QR-Codes are here, the time is now and everyday will be harder to deny it.

If even the dinosaurs have realized and have started to use QR-Codes as an advertising tool, what are you waiting for?

Last Thursday, March 25th we made a QR Codes presentation at the “Days of Sustainability” organized by the 22@Network in the Torre Agbar in Barcelona with the technical support divu*science.

In summary, our role was to print the badges of the attendants including a QR on the back with the personal information embedded in each person. It was an easy and clear way of presenting QRs to the “profanes” by using a practical application.

Carrying out this project helped us identify and verify “in situ” the following facts:

• The standards for data entry via MECARD / VCARD in QRs, coding, processing of information for readers, etc … are not yet consolidated.In the generation of codes embedded data in a MECARD assistants and test with different encodings to be able to show the accents and special characters in the main readers. MECARD However the field does not include organization / company that we consider necessary in such actions

  So far, agencies such as the Mobile Codes Consortium does not appear for work, but the Open Mobile Alliance seemingly has it on the agenda. http://www.openmobilealliance.org/Document/Annual_Report/2009_OMA_Annual_Report.pdf (p. 22)

  In any case, if Facebook and / or Google are moving in the introduction of QRs in its various products we believe will begin to set standards “de facto” then readers and generators will have a reference.

• Each day it’s easier for companies to see the possibilities and potential uses of codes. We’re not the “rare”.
• It is becoming less “rare” talking about 2D codes and we began to detect early-adopters outside the blogs.
• Installing apps/add functions to our phones is becoming less “strange”

When something stops being “rare” becomes normal. The process of normalization of 2D codes as well as the musts required to grow fast (terminals, connection fees, etc …), is accelerating and we believe that 2010-2011 will be the period in which the QR-Codes will hit the mainstream.

In other events we saw that they incorporated an RFID sticker on the badge with the assistant info and it was used to control the flow/access of people in the facility. We believe that the coexistence of these two technologies (QR-Codes + RFIDs) will improve the management and experience of those attending events of any kind (lectures, concerts, sport events, etc …).

The RFIDs helps the management of large crowds as QRs are an excellent resource for people to relate to and favour networking.

Photos: Yago van der Wel - www.yagovanderwel.com

We have another follower in Spain who believes QR-Codes are the future present.

APLI is the leading company on the Spanish market in manufacturing labels and stationery articles, the have distribution of its products in +85 countries. Xavier Olivares, Innovation Responsible, contacted us in order to start a joint-action and finally the product is out in the market. There are +200.000 APLI boxes with QR-Codes!
The project consisted in including a QR-Code linking to a demo-video in one of the APLI products (mailng-express labels) so consumers can watch in for instructional purposes or act as a sales tool.

We do believe thid asset has lots of potential and that video-demos are just one out of the many applications Consumer+Packaging+Internet (mobile of course).

The pedagogy  (or call it in this case evangelization) about QR-Codes, what are they and how to read them is at http://labs.apli.com where user can play around and generate their own codes too. The Labs are meant to be an innovation and communication platform whre APLI can show beta products and openly share/think about the future.

As a part  of the project we also filmed a video we the QR-Codeis shown. If you are curious about it, you can watch the video and see what mobile users see clicking the folliwing image.

We celebrate this first joint project APLI and  TMC.es knowing it will not be the last one.

Thank you Xavi… Sometimes we need fools that believing other fools.

Last Saturday November 27th we took part in  “VI Jornades de la Informació i la Comunicació″ held simultaneously at Tortosa, Tarragona y Cornellà. From qrcodes.es we want to thank and congratulate both organizers and sponsors Universitat Roviera i Virgili, Ajuntament de Tortosa and Secretaria de Joventut del Departament d’Acció Social i Ciutadania de la Generalitat de Catalunya), and specially people form ATICTES for an excelent job and event where we were able to present our project and see some other projects mobile internet related.

Conferences were streamed live (via ustream.tv) and Q+A closed each session between different venues. You can see the  programme  and our intervention as well (language: catalan).

First intervention is about “Mobile Learning sobre Android” by  Tíscar Lara. The 2nd our is us. Enjoy!

Modern information technologies are a rapidly advancing field that can facilitate new effective means to reach consumers. Mobiles technologies offer another opportunity to provide sustainability information to consumers. The BVG is using this platform since the beginning of the mobile internet, starting with the Wireless Application Protocol (commonly referred to as WAP), pushing the BVG-mobile internet with i-mode and now currently using the Extensible Hypertext Markup Language XHTML for the new BVG-mobile platform. To enable a more convenience-oriented application aimed at mobile phone users the BVG is now using the QR code. QR codes, or Quick Response codes are an open source mobile phone read bar code type technology which originated from Japan.

QR codes which are readable by a mobile phone camera are affixed onto a product or package and direct the user to online information via wireless internet enabled mobile phones. All you need is a reader-software to scan the image of the QR Code causing the phone’s browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URL. The BVG will be using QR codes in future to ensure more convenience regarding the usage of mobile passenger information.

Via: BVG.DE

So far in Spain we have just seen shy tries on 2D Code usage and without using all the possibilities of QR amb mobile internet. To innovate has its price and its risk, but those who have done so and have sone it right are starting to see the payback (payback, nice word on recession times).

Today we found out (thank you Jose Luis) that Vueling has launched an QR-Code based on-line check-in system. 

Summary: you buy your ticket online, recieve an MMS with a QR-CODE on it. When going through security  control and check-in showing the MMS will be enough. You’ll still have to carry an ID/Passport until we tatoo our front-heads with a QR-Code ;).This will save lots of paper-stuff and make the process more efficient (another great word nowadays).

Vueling has gone a little bit further. Other companies in Spain and all over the world started MMS check-in based strategies (ej. Spanair), but through Vueling you can now buy tickets through you mobile phone (http://m.vueling.com or straight thorugh a QR-Code).

We are sure we will soon see QR-Codes on printed media (newspapers, walls, etc.) showing links to mobile versions of ecommerce sites and direct offers (Ex. Fly BCN-MAD for 50€. Capture this code now!).

We just discovered through Kaywa’s blog a project called “Code Unique”. It’s supposed to be a futuristic hotel with QR-Coded facades.

Both the website and the .pdf are worth watching.

• Code Unique, Studio City Hotel
• PDF (Espectacular!)

Last tuesday we were invited to give a class at graphic design master for editorial projects at ELISAVA.

Thaïs and Christian (thank you both) asked us not to get too focused on technical issues like readers, standards, etc. but to give a quick presentation on this technology and show as many uses as possible for the editorial world.

So we did tried.  In our behalf it was a very interesting chat to prepare and the practical excercises were also very encouraging beacuse of the good attitude of more than 50 students and teachers. It made us all think about the next generation books, magazines, newspapers, etc. which will probably “grow” some QR-Codes very soon.

We really hope we presented them a useful  asset for their future jobs and projects.

QR-Codes are already in college. Next stop: they will hit the road!

PS: As usual we didn’t take photos :(