Eco-nomic QR Codes

Newspapers could save tons of paper, ink, energy and time as well as provide a more handy smaller format for reading on the bus or in the train by putting only the main items in print and linking to the full online publication via a QR code.

Just think of the benefits, less paper to make dirty equals faster production times (deadlines), equals more time for journalists to get their stories in before production starts. In short it conserves paper, ink, solvents, energy, time and produces more time and convenience and saves big money. Example: why have 6 pages full of sports information in a newspaper if you're a computer geek and not interested in sport, I really don't need or want it. Just pop the snazzy commentary and action shots behind a QR code I say!

An example of who is making work of using QR codes in a eco-nomic and eco friendly way is CEMR (Council of European Municipalities and Regions) more information on how this organization is saving tons of paper, energy and adding to less CO² emisions can be found in their article: Smart Cards: put CEMR in your pocket!

QR codes and how to use them

 The QR code above has (as indicated) a website address embedded in it and when scanned with a QR code reader will pass this address along to the reader application to work with, usually resulting in the opening of a web browser and navigation to the website.

How to use QR codes

Mobile phones with cameras can read these 2D barcodes by using a barcode scanner application on the phone. In some countries the mobile phones come with pre-installed QR code reader software, and if not there are many resources on Internet to download and install these 2D code readers.

Scanning the QR code triggers the mobile phone to go to a website location. In this case it is this blog. Interesting to note that the QR4 blog has a mobile version of the blog.

QR Codes Connect

By placing QR codes anywhere in the real-world, like posters, business cards, packaging, stickers, you name it, it becomes possible to provide information on location. Whether it be a vCard, loading and playing a video or music, navigating to a mobile website or service or simply dialing a number, QR codes are very usefull little 2D barcodes.