Get Organized!: Download Your Own QR Code Reader

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Download Your Own QR Code Reader

In the last post, we introduced the concept of "Quick Response" codes, better known as "QR" codes.To use a QR code reader, you will need a smartphone equipped with a camera. The next step is to download a reader. The one I use on my BlackBerry is called "QR Code Scanner Pro." You can download it for free here.

Here is a list of other sources for downloading QR code readers:

2d Code
Best QR Code Readers
5 QR Code Readers for iPhone
QR Code Readers for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7

In addition, if you have a BlackBerry with BlackBerry Messenger, you already have a built-in QR code reader. Open the BlackBerry Messenger, press the Menu key, and choose "Scan a Group Barcode."

How do you use the QR code reader? When you see a QR code, open the reader on your smartphone. The smartphone will use your camera to let you see the code. Position the smartphone so that you can comfortable see all of the image.

With both QR Code Scanner Pro and the reader built into BlackBerry Messenger, simply hold the smartphone still. In a couple of seconds the reader confirms that it has successfully scanned the code and gives you a prompt as to whether or not you wish to go ahead with the results.Other software may require you to press a key to start the scan. Once you have confirmed the selection, your browser opens and you are taken to the link.

That's all there is to it! You may notice that scanning a QR code on your smartphone is the on-the-go equivalent of clicking a link when we are on our computers. QR codes allow those "links" to show up anywhere in our environment.

At this point, you have probably already seen some practical uses for QR codes and may have some others in mind. In the next post, you will lean how to create QR codes. In the post following that, we will look at some ways you could use this tool.

Have you been able to download and begin using a QR code reader? I would like to hear your thoughts.

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Comments from Workshops

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