As in recognition, be it facial, dataglyph, or as in the image to the left a QR code. We are reaching the point where the next time you see a hand post it might be one of those funky little squares. In the US this is catching on with industry and is now creeping into the general populace. On the enduser side all you need is a smartphone and the right reader software installed. In Japan they are way ahead of us in the use of the QR. —

Why are those little squares worth all the fuss? In and of themselves not much. We have had barcodes for years. But what sets QR and DM codes apart from barcodes is flexibility and and data density. Depending on formatting one can have up to 4k of data in that little set of squares.

Now couple that density with wireless technology and web based data mining technology. In a subway system using the cell phone to capture a QR and then find your location become a snape as your cell phone application pulls up a Google map of the subway system. Or a warehouse tracks inventory using QR codes on the boxes and shelving. Why not put QR codes on road signs? Fact why not make the information sign one large QR traget? Then have the cars mapping software display food, fuel and other data. (Course much of that is done today with GPS.) We start to see this technology today in security systems, public events. QRs are even on business cards.

The hold up? Well they are piddling. I generated the QR above using an online QR generator. There are both proprietary and open source code generators. There is even a open source QR reader now, written in Java. The fact is the tools are now out there to make the technology expand in a big way.

Some retailer is going to come along and realize the potential. With a QR code affixed to that wearable the customer can get the price, vendor and model. They can also get a visual demo presented right on their cellphone from the retailer or designer about the clothing. Click another button and a sales clerk could be summoned right to the spot for assistance. THAT is competitive advantage.

In this case its cool to be square.