Monday, January 2, 2012

'Smart phones read the Star'



E-mailPrintPDF
Share/Save/Bookmark
The Star has become the first newspaper in Kenya to integrate QR ( Quick Response) codes in its newspaper. A QR code is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code). The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. Information can be  encoded and be made up of any kind of data.
The square “quick response” codes turn URLs, vCards, or any kind of text into a jumble of pixels that you can scan onto your smartphone instantaneously, no typing required.
In the Star’s case the code has been configured to direct a mobile phone scan directly to the  mobile version of the Star’s website. QR codes are easy to generate, a quick search on any search engine  provides various websites that provide tools to encode text information to a ‘scannable’ code in the space of a minute. QR codes  were created by Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota to track vehicles during the manufacturing process., recently the codes have been configured to carry information like business cards, product details, addresses.
With the smart phones penetration in the Kenya market increasing, custom-made options for 3G mobile phones are in demand. Digital consumers are increasingly using their phones to perform various functions.
To read a QR code a phone needs to have an in-built bar scanner which can also be downloaded for free in the various mobile phone user markets. With digital media playing an  important role in information consumption the Star newspaper has embraced QR codes as a quick and smart way to lead traffic to its mobile website.

No comments:

Post a Comment