QR (or “Quick Response”) codes are essentially the next generation in bar codes. They’re also known as 2-dimensional bar codes because scanning devices read the pattern both horizontally and vertically. Compared to the familiar UPC-type bar code that consists of a single row of lines, a QR code can store a much larger amount of data in a compact area.

QR code technology was originally developed in the mid-1990s for use in Japanese manufacturing, and was then adopted in the shipping business as an ideal means of tracking parcels. The need for specialized scanning equipment previously restricted QR codes to industrial and institutional use, until a popular new invention came along: the camera-equipped smartphone.

Now consumers can have easy interactions with the technology by taking pictures of QR codes and using software on their mobile device to decode and use the stored data. The end result might be a link to a web address, a special offer or some type of electronic transaction.

QR codes can serve as a convenient shortcut between the physical world and the online world. It’s like having the ability to insert hyperlinks in our everyday surroundings, which is especially helpful for directing people to a lengthy, database-driven URL that would be impractical to write down or type into a browser.    

Signs posted on homes for sale make a great example. A prospective buyer can simply can simply scan a QR code on the “For Sale” sign to get immediate details about the property instead of having to look up listings on the real estate agent’s site or try a hit-or-miss search on Google.

But QR codes have wide-ranging potential uses besides delivering web links. Here are a few examples of other business applications:

Conferences and tradeshows can print identifying QR codes on attendees’ name badges. When people meet and wish to exchange contact information, they can simply scan each other’s badges instead of trading business cards.

A number of airlines including Continental, American, Delta and United are offering “mobile boarding pass” and “paperless boarding” options using QR code technology. Passengers receive a virtual boarding pass on their phones that can be scanned at airport security checkpoints without needing to be printed out.

Google has created a system of Google Favorite Places as a feature of Google Maps. Businesses can place QR codes in their store windows or ads linking to their corresponding Google Place Page, where people can find detailed information, customer reviews, special offers, etc.

Companies like QRickets and EventBrite are introducing systems for organizing events online and sending electronic tickets to attendees in the form of QR codes to be scanned for admission.

QR codes can be used to facilitate online payments. A company called PortaPayments generates QR codes that link to a pre-populated PayPal payment form. This makes it possible to set up a virtual tip jar or print QR codes on invoices for easy payment.

Want to learn more? Contact Signal to discuss how clever innovations with QR codes might be Quite Right for your business.

We are proud to announce the release of the Signal mobile application for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, now available as a free download from Apple’s App Store.

Download it now!

The app gives you the latest news updates from the Signal blog, plus contact information and driving directions for our locations in Raleigh, Wilmington and Nashville. You can browse a mini portfolio of our design work and watch videos we’ve produced. Meet the Signal team in our staff bios and in fun photo galleries from special events and creative challenges.

The Signal app marks the first finished product resulting from our extensive study and research into the mobile application market. We have plans in the works to release versions of the Signal app for the BlackBerry and Android platforms, and we will soon be debuting nifty mobile apps created for our clients.

Mobile is the most popular and most rapidly adopted technology in the world with an estimated 4.6 billion subscribers, about 70% of the world’s population. And with smartphone sales accelerating rapidly, mobile devices are on their way to becoming the #1 means of accessing the Internet. In this new landscape, mobile apps will change from novelties to necessities. Ask us how Signal can help you stay ahead of the curve by developing your own mobile app.

If you look closely at consumer packaging, magazines or any other printed material with a web address, you might notice the term “Augmented Reality.”

Wikipedia defines Augmented Reality (AR) as “a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery — creating a mixed reality.”

A complex example of AR would be a head mounted display that allows the user to view superimposed graphics and text. Remember RoboCop? Real-world AR technology hasn’t quite reached that level of sophistication yet, but AR on the web is presently mixing graphic elements (3D, Video, text, etc.) with live video footage to create a unique user experience. The final image is a taken with the user’s web cam and displayed on the web page, as opposed to a cyborg policeman’s digital visor.

Take a look at a Science Channel special on AR and how it’s being used to engage students.

Some web users aren’t sure what to make of AR. It’s a little far out, but depending on the success of AR on the web, it could be commonplace within the next few years. And with companies like Home Depot and Target using this technology to reach their audience, it’s gaining exposure fast. Here are some examples…

Home Depot Gift Card

Target Holiday Campaign

InStyle

Esquire

So what does this mean for you and your business? Well, that’s all part of the fun. There is no road map for how to use AR. Signal is seizing the opportunity to get creative and think of ways to engage your audience. Maybe you have a product that you’d like to showcase. You may have pictures of this product online, but the ability for someone to interact with a three-dimensional product could make a lasting impression.

Signal developed our own AR site to tie in with our 2009 holiday greeting card. If you’d rather get back to non-Augmented Reality, I understand. But if you’re interested in just a little more, check it out.

Have a great holiday and a happy new year!

What are widgets? They’re cool, customizable mini-applications that can be embedded directly into to a web page, bringing live feeds, games and user specific information to your visitors. Popular social media sites offer simple chunks of code you can insert on your site to create instant widgets.

For example, by adding a Facebook widget to your company’s site, you immediately have a visually attractive and customized entry point readily available for visitors to connect with you. Via your Facebook widget, visitors can see up-to-the-minute wall postings and become your fan with a click. And of course the widget links directly to your Facebook page.

There is a vast and growing range of widgets available. Below is an example showing how Signal has combined three widgets (including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook) on one “connect with us” page. Visit the Alma Lasers Connect page and see the widgets in action!

New Dimock & Weinberg Web Site

Signal announced the launch of a new web site for Dimock & Weinberg, DDS, PA, a pediatric dentistry practice located in Wilmington, NC.

The design of the new web site highlights the fun and child-friendly focus of the practice and features downloadable forms to help simplify new patient registration. The site also features an interactive photo gallery that provides visitors with a virtual office tour, while additional pages provide extensive information on what to expect from a child’s first visit to the dentist.

To view the new Dimock & Weinberg, DDS, PA web site, visit: www.ccpedo.com