QR Codes Spreading through the area.

Every now and then I want to point out different ways people are using qr codes. I think it is great to pass ideas along to spark creativity. Here is an article I found from Seth Johnson for the Fergus Falls Journal:

QR codes spreading through area [UPDATED]

Published 11:18am Monday, June 6, 2011Updated 11:24am Monday, June 6, 2011

This isn’t an impossible maze or a tiny crossword puzzle. This is a QR code, and although they have been slow to catch on in the U.S., they have the potential to revolutionize mobile communication.

“The QR code is pretty amazing,” said Fergus Falls Public Schools Technology Specialist Jesse Thorstad. “The QR code makes it super easy for someone with a mobile device to access information.”

These two dimensional codes can contain URLs, text and phone numbers. This information can be accessed by scanning the code with a mobile device.

Smartphones including BlackBerrys, iPhones and Droids have QR code scanning capabilities. A QR code scanner application must first be downloaded. There are many free QR code scanner applications and most work very well, said Thorstad.

The application uses the mobile device’s camera function to scan the code. Once the code is read, the device will open a web site, call a phone number or display text.

This process can be much faster than typing a URL into a Web browser, said Thorstad.

The Fergus Falls AmericInn has used QR codes in some of its local advertising.

“We’re sponsoring the races out at the I-94 speedway in a couple of weeks,” said AmericInn Managing Director Keresa Schultz. “We will actually be putting the codes on the T-shirts.” Schultz said she plans to continue to use these codes to promote the AmericInn.

The QR code can contain much more information than the standard numeric bar code. Thorstad expects QR codes to start popping up all over in the near future.

Restaurant menus, business cards, resumes, advertisements and brochures are some of the places QR codes are starting to show up, he said.

“I’m always thinking about education,” said Thorstad. “I want to figure out how we are going to use these in school.”

There are QR codes posted next to some of the student artwork on the walls of the school. These codes will send viewers to Youtube videos of the artists talking about their work.

“When I look at art, I always have questions in mind,” said Thorstad. “You get a deeper sense of appreciation for the artwork if you can see the artist talking about their work and their inspiration for it.”