2d code

Carbon Offset QR Code Stickers

Roger — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:03:36 +0000

Environmental management and greenhouse gas emissions trading company, Japan Eco-Life is encouraging Japanese companies to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism* (CDM) by using QR Coded mini-stickers. The very small stickers which are only 24mm long and 12mm wide are designed for sticking on your business card when you want to impress the recipient with your green credentials. The QR Code resolves to a mobile page where the user enters their certification number and is then taken to a page describing the particular project with which they are associated and their offset so far.

* Under the Kyoto Protocol the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows countries like the UK, USA, Japan and others to contribute to projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to reductions in their own country. These projects are approved by the United Nations and each has a value given in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

This is the third carbon offset project involving QR Codes that I have heard of so far, the other two being Eco Flights, QR Codes and Carbon Offset and Beer, Carbon Offset and a QR Code Campaign.

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Facebook, QR Codes and Social Search

Roger — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:13:46 +0000

The news that some Facebook users had seen a couple of extra QR Code related links on their profile page caused a little excitement yesterday. TechCrunch were hyperventilating with a post headed “Facebook Kicks Off Implementation of QR Codes” and the Twittersphere was awash with questions and comments. Some confusion developed as no sooner had Facebook put them up than they took them down again. I emailed the Facebook Press Office and received the following response “We are constantly experimenting with new ideas and products internally. We don’t have anything to announce publicly at this time”.

When/if Facebook do permanently introduce QR Code generation off the page then we can well and truly regard it as the tipping point for QR Codes. Let’s hope their 400 million active users don’t try to generate a QR Code at the same time!

What was interesting about this episode was the flow of traffic to this website as users who are unfamiliar with QR Codes searched the web for more information. Visitors arriving via a Search Engine increased by more than 96% but this was dwarfed by the increase in visitors who arrived from Social Media at 279%.

Does this mean that Social Media is the new search? With the advent of Google Social Search and social media search engines like WhosTalkin and SocialMention my guess is that users are finding these increasingly useful when it comes to researching breaking news.

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Organic Cosmetics to Have QR Code Labeling

Roger — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:06:00 +0000

The International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association (NaTrue) are replacing their three star labeling system with QR Codes (Full press release). The codes will resolve to mobile pages with information on the natural ingredients, the companies who produce them and their values, environmental standards and fair trade practices (example image below).

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Fandango Datamatrix Ticketing Roll Out

Roger — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:02 +0000

Fandango is using Datamatrix 2d Codes for its Mobile Ticketing roll out in the Reading Cinemas circuit (full press release). The Datamatrix Code in the image below decodes to A0000015446.

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SXSW QR Codes Fail

Roger — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:22:05 +0000

As we previously posted badges at SXSW have a photo and a QR Code that decodes to a personal page where delegates can leave a message or access contact information. Organizers hoped that this will cut down on the paper footprint of SXSW by reducing the need for business cards. However scanning the QR Code leads to a simple login page (image below) which contradicts the 3rd Rule: Make the content valuable. The content behind the login page may be valuable but the page itself is not. How do you make the login page valuable and decrease the abandonment rate? Provide just enough information for the user to feel compelled to login and view what comes next. Simple really.

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Hearts On Fire with a QR Code

Roger — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:15:15 +0000

The latest issue of Elle magazine contains a QR Code advertisement for diamond jeweler Hearts on Fire. The QR Code resolves to a mobilized site with product images and social network information.

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Shoe Sole QR Code

Roger — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:53:16 +0000

Patrick Donnelly has had an interesting idea and is looking for help to make it a reality (email is on his website) - QR Codes on the sole of your shoes (image below). I am not sure how they could be kept readable given the contrast requirements between the dark and light squares, any ideas?

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Chevrolet at SXSW with QR Codes

Roger — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:01:44 +0000

Chevrolet will use QR Codes at SXSW to introduce attendees to the key features of the Camaro, Volt, and Cruze. They are making a fleet of vehicles available for the conference and QR Codes on the hood will resolve to a microsite to learn more about that particular model. Although the one in the press handout (image below) does not do that and decodes as SMSTO:2142081845:Hi There. I’m Chrissie.

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2DCodeMe Launch Website

Roger — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:40:22 +0000

2DCodeMe.com who made the History of Symbology and 2D video has a new website. Visitors can watch their explanatory videos and generate their own free QR Codes for creating personalized items such as T-shirts, Mugs and Decals (full press release).

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First QR Code in Tunisia

Roger — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:48:07 +0000

The first QR Code in Tunisia is on the cover of this months issue of Tunivisions, the celebrity and glamour magazine. Interestingly it does not decode to a url but to text which when translated into English reads “Do not miss the revolution Tunivisions 2.0″.

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