Are QR Codes the Next Big Thing?

Here’s the back-story: Denso-Wave, a Japanese corporation, developed them back in 1994. But now they’re starting to turn up everywhere in Japan. They work like bar codes, except that they’re square shaped and look like television static.

Meanwhile, Japanese cell carrier NTT Docomo started to embed QR code recognition in their “i-Mode” brand of cellphones. Using these phones, Japanese cellphone subscribers can take a picture of a QR code on anything, such as a burger wrapper, a bottle of shampoo, or a billboard.