The Voice of the Street

The Voice of the Street gibt Streetart Künstlern die Möglichkeit echtes Feedback auf ihre Kunstwerke zu erhalten, ohne dabei ihre Anonymität zu verlieren. Artists melden sich auf der Website an und bekommen einen personalisierten QR-Code zugewiesen, den sie mit in ihre Arbeiten einbauen oder in deren Nähe kleben.

My QRCode trail @ Adobe MAX 2007

Hi all. I’m trying an interesting experiment with QR Codes while I’m at Adobe MAX 2007.

Basically, if you see the “Community Card” below, you know I’ve been there/meet that person.

If you have a Nokia N95 and/or otherwise have a QR code reader (such as kaywa) installed on your mobile device … or if you’re international and have keitai you can scan this card to contact me (for fun) … since there is no other information on this card, you’ll need to scan the QR to contact me.

Hackergame, zum Ersten an der FH Rapperswil

Jeder Besucher bekam beim Eingang einen Badge mit einem QR Code (wenn ich es richtig verglichen habe). Diese wurde fotografiert und so eine Rangliste erstellt. Eine sehr gute Idee.

Why mobile Japan leads the world (the Guardian)

Yasuko San is aiming her mobile at a small, square tattoo on paper, clicking a little and peering happily at the result. Her prize? The latest novel written for the mobile, entitled "Teddy". Such serialised novels for mobiles are just the latest phone application that has caught the Japanese imagination, but - apart from neighbouring South Korea - few others.

Those printed square icons, however, made their debut in the UK earlier this month (to promote the DVD of the film 28 Weeks Later). Known as QR (quick read) codes, they have aided Japan's mobile revolution by making it easy to access a web page via mobile. Users can be directed to sites by snapping the codes printed in magazines, posters and even on biscuits.

Sorry for being picky - Quick Response, it's called.
And in the UK there were some other QR Code projects. First of all Kerrang started it all back in November last year. Then it was the Pet Shop Boys who just came out with their QR Code video.
And now Umbro along Gia's 28Weeks Later campaign have followed.

But - after my morning pickiness - let's go back to the article and hit the one paragraph that I think really makes the difference between Japan and the rest of the world.

But why is such technology such a hit in Japan and not in other mobile-savvy nations such as Finland? According to the man who kickstarted the trend - the father of i-mode, NTT DoCoMo's Takeshi Natsuno - it is because of the Japanese genius for designing new technologies that can be adopted by anyone, especially techno-phobes. It's not about "bandwidth, nor standards, nor unique Japanese culture", he says. It is about "fun and convenience".

What can I say more.