Tag Archives: qr codes
PayPal and Venmo QR payments are coming to CVS Pharmacies
Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything (video)
Technologies like NFC, RFID and QR codes are quickly becoming a normal part of everyday life, and now a group from
It's easy to see how smartphones could take advantage of this -- not that we recommend dragging your new iPhone over ridged surfaces -- but unlike the technologies mentioned earlier, not all potential applications envisage a personal reading device. Dot barcodes around an area, install the sound processing hardware on site, and you've got yourself an interactive space primed for breaking freshly manicured nails. We're pretty impressed by the simplicity of the concept, and the team does a good job of presenting scenarios for implementing it, which you can see in the video below. And, if you'd like to learn a little more about the idea or delve into the full academic paper, the source links await you.
[Thanks, Julia]
Continue reading Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything (video)
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Software, Alt
Acoustic barcodes store data in sound, go on just about anything (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chris Harrison (1), (2) (PDF) | Email this | Comments Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping
Well, this one should give parents with ever-present ankle-biters reason to celebrate. Starting Sunday, October 14th, Target will make a special in-store area available highlighting 20 of the most sought-after toys -- all tagged with QR codes for one-stop, secret mobile shopping. The initiative is being targeted at consumers (read: frazzled Moms and Dads) who need to conduct their frenzied gift-buying without the prying eyes of curious children. You'll have to install the company's app to scan the codes and opt-in for the free shipping, but it's really no more complicated than that. All told, it's an added bit of convenience that should relieve some of that mad holiday stress, but it's definitely bad news for the impulse buyer. You can check out the PR after the break for the full list of included products.
Continue reading Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsNew ‘nano-code’ could help fight banknote forgery by embedding invisible QR-style ciphers
We've all seen (and probably used) QR codes at some point. And, handy as they are for quick linking to apps, or value added content etc, there's usually not much else going on. Unless you're one of the team at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, that is, who have created a tiny version of the quadrilateral-codes that could be used to spot counterfeit money. The invention uses nanoparticles combined with blue and green fluorescent ink, and can be sprayed onto surfaces such as glass, plastic film, or of course, pictures of American presidents. The nano-code remains invisible until placed under a near-infrared laser, making it ideal for helping spot legit bank notes. The creators say they have done significant wear tests, which suggest that it's durable, but they also accept that eventually criminal technology could eventually catch up, in the constant cat and mouse game between mandated money producers and forgers. Whether there'd be links to the Benjamin Franklin Wiki page is unclear.
New 'nano-code' could help fight banknote forgery by embedding invisible QR-style ciphers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkUbergizmo | | Email this | Comments Visualized: World’s largest QR code is a Canadian maize maze
And why wouldn't it be? That's how the Kraay family of Lacombe, Alberta, Canada gets down, as evidenced by the family's past 13 years of elaborate corn maze designs -- from a logo of the Edmonton Oilers to a 25th anniversary commemoration of Rick Hansen's "Man in Motion" tour. Said QR code sends adventurous scanners to a website for the Kraay's family farm website. The code also got the Kraays into the Guinness Book of World Records for "World's Largest QR Code," which was really what drove this whole project. At approximately 29,000 meters (1.1 square miles), that's quite a bit of carefully crafted corn designing. It's certainly more elaborate than the previously claimed record holder, and a lot more official.
"It was something that we didn't think would happen. There were a lot of little things we had to do and Guinness is pretty picky with how you collect your evidence. We were a little bit on edge on whether it would come through so we were very relieved and very excited," Rachel Kraay told CTV News about the project. To verify that the code works, the Kraays had to commission a helicopter to fly them over their own farm, allowing them to scan it while hovering hundreds of feet above. And then, at the end of last week, the Guinness folks sent over a package certifying the bizarre world record. "They didn't even call. I just went to the door and there was a large package and inside was the certificate and a letter. I guess that's how they do it."
[Image credit: Facebook]
Filed under: Misc, Internet, Alt
Visualized: World's largest QR code is a Canadian maize maze originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PermalinkDigital Journal | CTV News | Email this | Comments LevelUp unveils payment docks that take both NFC and QR codes, leave out the guesswork
Most stores accepting mobile payments usually have to take just one format, whether it's Google Wallet, Square or another flavor that you probably can't use. LevelUp is convinced you shouldn't have to choose platforms: it just revealed a new payment dock that will recognize both the company's existing QR code system as well as NFC. It's much easier sight on the eyes than typical NFC terminals, to boot. Just don't expect a one-for-one recreation of systems like Google Wallet or Isis. Rather than expose your banking details by holding them in a chip, LevelUp's NFC is just used to move the transaction along -- if it's used to get things started, shoppers can either switch to a QR code or complete the transaction with a second tap. The company is mostly planning to replace its existing payment points across the US with the NFC-aware models. Bluetooth 4.0 is an option for the future, however, which could make LevelUp even more of a Swiss Army Knife for the world of mobile commerce.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals
LevelUp unveils payment docks that take both NFC and QR codes, leave out the guesswork originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |GigaOM | Email this | Comments Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR codes, NFC and stickers
Strangely, the Austrian city of Klagenfurt doesn't have a public library, even though it hosts the Festival of German-Language Literature. However, an initiative dubbed Project Ingeborg is turning the municipality into a book repository of sorts with 70 QR code and NFC chip-equipped stickers. Plastered throughout town, they direct users to web pages where they can download public domain works, largely from Project Gutenberg. Oftentimes, e-books will be located in relevant locations -- so you'll be sure to find Arthur Schnitzler's The Killer near the police station, for example. Come August, the team behind the effort will partner with local talent to distribute books, music and other digital content too. In an effort to build a stronger bond to the location, the organizers have prevented search engines from indexing the links, so you'll have to visit Klagenfurt to access the curated goods. If you'd like to turn your city into a library, the group hopes to release instructions for replicating their system soon.
[Thanks, Michael]
Filed under: Cellphones
Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR codes, NFC and stickers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Pingeb (translated) | Email this | Comments QR codes get gussied up in ‘Beautiful Traps,’ become art (video)
Louis Vuitton QR codes not your thing? Leave it up to Yiying Lu -- illustrator of the infamous "fail whale" -- to make QR codes presentable enough to bring home and show the family. As part of an art project called Beautiful Traps, Lu hand painted codes into portaits featuring carnivorous plants. The codes aren't just for show -- scanning them pulls up a video of the painting process, handily viewable on your mobile device of choice. Roll past the break for a timelapse video of their creation.
Continue reading QR codes get gussied up in 'Beautiful Traps,' become art (video)
QR codes get gussied up in 'Beautiful Traps,' become art (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |Yiying Lu | Email this | Comments Beer Glass Reveals QR Code When Filled With Guinness Only
By David Ponce
We’ve seen our fair share of creative marketing campaigns. There was the photoblocker beer cooler that encouraged cheating. There was also the iPhone “Xray” application that could undress models in magazines. And now there’s this here glass of beer that serves as a marketing prop for Guinness beer. If you fill it up with water or pale beer, it’s impossible to scan the code. But fill it with the Irish murky brew and its blackness gives the right background to make the code visible. Upon scanning with your smartphone
“it tweets about your pint, updates your facebook status, checks you in via 4 square, downloads coupons and promotions, invites your friends to join, and even launches exclusive Guiness content.”
We’re not so sure we’d be that excited about the “exclusive Guinness content”, but hey, it’s smart marketing and look at that, it got us talking about the brand. There’s no word on where and when the glasses will become available.
Hit the jump for one more picture and links.
VIA [ BoingBoing ]