Being Social #13 - Quick Response!

Welcome to eNetworking 101 and Being Social!

I received my first "up close and personal" experience with quick response codes (QR codes) at a conference this spring. While they were not new to me, I hadn't really seen them in action. Now I'm beginning to see them more frequently and in places I wouldn't have imagined like business cards.

What is a QR code? According to Wikipedia:

A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The "QR" is derived from "Quick Response", as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.

QR Codes are common in Japan, where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional codes. Moreover, most current Japanese mobile phones can read this code with their camera.

These funky looking codes can pack a lot of information. For example, if you read the one above with a QR application on your mobile phone (e.g., iPhone), it will display my contact information which can then be saved in your phone's address book. Four free QR code reader applications for the iPhone are QR App, i-nigma, 2D Sense, and ScanLite. (I've been using QR App.) QR codes are showing up on business cards, web sites, movie posters, marketing materials. and other places. Below is a video demo of a QR code on the Iron Man 2 movie poster (1:30 min.)



Now that you know what a QR code is, what do you need to do?

First, download QR code software to your smartphone, so you can read a QR code. You can ever start using the software by reading the QR code above.

BTW newer smartphones will do a better job of reading QR codes because of their improved cameras. Older smartphones may be a bit finicky, especially with QR codes that are small in size. You may need to experiment a bit so you know what to do so your phone will read a QR code.

Second, keep your eyes open for these codes. Once you are aware of what they are, I think you will begin to notice them around you.

Third, experiment with creating your own QR code. There are many sites that will allow to to do it for free. The QR code above was created using www.mskynet.com/static/maestro

Tips: This week, there is something for everyone...no matter who you are!

• A Twitteraholic’s Guide to tweets, hashtags, and all things Twitter
• Essential Social Media Etiquette For College Students: Six Tips
• Top 6 Social Media Mistakes And How to Fix Them
• LinkedIn Recommendation Tips

For Your Information & Entertainment: We tend to think that the gadget in our hands can't harm us because we own it. Sadly, our gadgets can be used against us. This article -- 5 Terrifying Ways Your Own Gadgets Can Be Used to Spy On You -- is meant to scare you a little, so you become aware of possible dangers. Does it mean that you should stop using your favorite gadgets? No. In some cases, it means keeping a tighter control on who has access to them, as well as understanding what software has been loaded on them. You also need to be aware of their capabilities.

As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed.

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The next issue of Being Social will be published in about two weeks. Until then...!