A quizzical response to the new bar codes
By Beth Teitell Globe Staff / October 8, 2011
Katie McLoughlin, a hip South End resident, was strolling Newbury Street when she saw something she'd never noticed: a square piece of paper with a black and white pattern, posted on a real estate billboard.
It's the kind of thing that is popping up regularly these days, but what, exactly, is it? "A reincarnation of those magic eye puzzles from the '90s - you cross your eyes and the image pops out?'' guessed McLoughlin, 27. She took another look, and admitted defeat. "I have no idea.''
The answer: a kind of bar code known as Quick Response. Scan one with your phone, and you can get additional product information, watch an exclusive video, win a prize, or, in the case of Group Boston Real Estate's QR code, learn square-footage and condo-fee numbers for advertised properties.
QR codes have quickly become the darling of the mobile marketing world. But despite their increasing ubiquity - they have appeared on Taco Bell cups, plants at the Home Depot , and Target toy catalogs- many consumers remain either totally ignorant or baffled.
...
***** Moderator's Note *****
How is this different than what "Cue-Cat" tried to do? Does anyone remember Cue-Cat?
Bill Horne Moderator