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?

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.

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

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 :(

Our jury has finally made up their mind, and the winner is: Joaquín Suárez from Carbajal de la Legua, León (España) for his QR-Tale “Gourmet”.

Gourmet
“Those mushrooms tasted delicious. However, gnomes clothes were a little difficult to digest.”.

Here you can read all the 475 tales we have received.

In behalf of the organization we would like to thank all contestants for their work that has exceeded our expectations once again and thay have shown us that in less than 100 characters and in very little space can fit great stories.

We also want to thank to our blogger friends the amazing word-spreading job thay have done about our contest.
See you next year in the III Edition!!

Last year, when we had the idea of organizing the First international QR-tales Contest (tales that fit in a qrcode) we couldn’t imagine it would reach a minimum success to consider the possibility of a second edition.

But, a year later, here we are, announcing the second edition of the most freaky contest of the literary scene:

The guilty, is all the people who last year racked one’s brain to write a tale that fits into a qrcode, despite it means contain just 100 characters. The result was 332 tales from more than 15 different countries. To all of them, qr-writers, thanks!

Read more »

A few days ago, we were surprised about the great number of ideas going around on internet on the uses of qrcodes in educational environments. Is seems that teachers have recently discovered the eyecathing power of qrcodes and they start using them to liven up learning activities.

So, we decided to write a post about this topic commenting some of the best and most curious proposals about qrcodes pedagogical possibilities. Here they are:

The periodic table of chemical elements

An italian university student designed a curious poster based on the classic periodic table but adding a qrcode to each element. The code containes the complet name of the element, its atomic weight an its density.

Read more »