QR Codes

For starters I am going to assume that everyone knows what QR codes are (for those of you who don't, they are the funny little fuzzy boxes located on many marketing pieces that can connect a mobile phone to information.) I have seen them for some time and for those of you on campuses with your students, take a look at some of the kaplan or food service provider marketing targeting the students to see what they are.

QR codes are tremendously powerful things - they can take you to a web page, to a phone number, to a text message or even to send a text message - try it to the right.

The system is simple, download a reader app (I use barcode scanner by Zxing free in the droid market) and uses the camera in your phone to scan the data and provide it to the processor.

The fact that you can use it in print, on the web and really anywhere that your constituents are with their phone, means that you have tremendous flexibility.

The newest iteration of these has to do with the flexibility of the code - it is actually possible to make the code a piece of art - think of the use on shirts, in design etc. Would your grandmother know what to do with it? Probably not. Would your students and young alumni? Without question. Have text giving as an option? Use a QR code to drive them to it - they simply need to scan click send twice and are done. How easy is that!