QR Codes Finding More Uses

It seems that QR Codes are showing up everywhere and some of the usages of QR Codes are pretty creative. The QR Code pictured here is from Starbucks in a game they had back in May of 2011. This was part of a clue type game called SRCH from Starbucks which had 6 rounds of play and then a final round. The QR Code was part of Round 1 in their game and had to be scanned as part of the game.

We have seen heavy usage of QR Codes by companies to promote products in stores and to provide consumers special deals when they scan the QR Code with a smart phone. But there are many other usages for QR Codes than one might imagine. It seems the idea has been around for years as a way to communicate with individuals. Take for example Nintendo, who used the QR Codes as a way to share Avatars. It would seem that it did not catch on, but the idea is notable. There is even Custom QR Codes where a customized QR Code gets created and it reminds one of the company behind it. One of their examples is for Angry Birds and if you scan the code, it will download the game to your iPhone. There are examples of Instgram and Shazam also contained at the link.

Jacked Up card games is another one where you can play games which are well known, but with a new twist where the deck of cards has a few individual cards which have QR Codes on them. This is a new twist on an old game and is expected to be released beginning in April. The idea is to have a Joker in the deck with a QR Code on it and if drawn, you would scan the QR Code with your iPhone or Android phone and get information back. That returned information could change the rules of the game on the fly and completely alter who might win. Here is a promotion video from Bicycle Cards.

Another usage which is starting to catch on in some parts of the world is the use of QR Codes in education. In Beatrice, Nebraska they are allowing the use of smart phones by 8th grade students in an effort to further their education. This is part of an effort to have students extending their interest and knowledge outside the classroom. Students scan QR Codes with their smart phones and can then be provided with a link to a YouTube video or an article that is relevant to current school teaching which is going on. This is an excellent way to extend education beyond the traditional textbooks to utilize something which students are doing outside the classroom. This is a unique example of how QR codes are for far more then company products.

In the world of QR Codes, there are more and more opportunities to take advantage of the technology in an ever expanding digital world.