So I have recently been having a look into QR codes. In fact, only since about.me had a offer to create a bunch of moo business cards (that included a QR code of your contact info) and only charge me postage, did I really start to think about them.
A QR Code (Quick Response code) is a 2D matrix barcode designed to be read by smart phones. The information in the QR code can be text, a URL, vCard information, or other data. So I figure that at a conference like the PASS Summit, where there’ll be thousands of geeks, most with a smartphone of sorts, this could be a conversation starter. Especially if you’re rockin’’ a QR t-shirt.
If you need a get a QR Code reader, just do a search for “QR Reader” in you favourite app store.
I’m planning on creating a couple of things to help with networking at the PASS Summit…
Business Cards
I’ll have a whole stash of business cards to hand out each day (you should too by the way, so get ordering) and I plan to have two QR codes on the back of the cards. one will be for all my contact details. Have you tried to capture all the data from a business card with one of those *business Card reader* apps, that a) cost a fare whack, and b) don’t work all that well. Well, now think of this. You have a smartphone, you meet me, I give you a business card. You say, “hey, you’ve got a QR code back here!” out come the phone, snap with the QR Code reader and BAMO! you’ve got all my contact details neatly, and correctly I might add, ready to be saved to your phone. Try this sanitised code below:
There is some basic contact information in there, but you’ll get the idea.
The other QR Code, will be this one, which holds but a single URL (which, if you really don’t want to scan with your fancy phone, goes here –> http://kimtag.com/lukehayler)
T-shirts
Yup. I’m going to spend good money to design a [hopefully] decent t-shirt that will have QR codes galore that anyone in some kind of proximity to me will be able to scan and therefore find out a little more about me. the alternative is of course to come over and say hello, but that would just be a bit too ‘old school’ now wouldn’t it…
Here’s a picture from the internet:
See, you could be cool too.
I’m also led to believe that Microsoft does something similar called a Tag. I’ll be looking into these next and seeing how they compare.