What are QR codes?
Now, I didn't really know a whole heck of a lot about QR codes before we discussed them last class, but I now have a definite handle on them. Basically a QR code is a 2-D barcode that goes in two directions - instead of the one direction of a traditional barcode. QR codes can also hold significantly more information than barcodes, such as ASCII characters or binary data.
There are several different ways to create them, such as Kaywa's site (they also have a reader that they sell), but they all work through the camera or scanner recognizing the code and then decoding it and providing information. For example, if you see a poster and it has a QR code, just scan (or snap) it and it will direct you to the URL or provide some other form of immediate feedback.
So why do QR Codes matter?
In Japan QR codes are being put on every printed piece of advertising these days, because they allow people to retrieve information instantly, which is especially helpful for things such as URLs, because there is no typing required.
James really emphasized that "The key idea is the immediate interaction with the information." In short, just because QR codes are used at the moment doesn't mean mobile technology will stay this way, but rather it is the ability to easily access information that is valuable. He even used the example of an elephant as a way of demonstrating that "hey, if this giant herbivore did the best job, then that's what I would be using."
Unlike some past technologies, I like the idea that mobile technology really adds a real world experience. I love the idea of walking around, seeing a poster about an event and scanning it to save for later. Some people might not be interested and likely would forget about the link, but for me it adds a whole new dimension to online bookmarking sites (which I love). It's almost like the whole world is your inspiration scrapbook that you can draw from later.
On to iPhone Application
Ahhh.... the iPhone. People have some pretty strong opinions about the iPhone, so I think everyone was waiting for this portion of the presentation with bated breath. The application development is a pretty cool subject and it makes me wish that I actually owned an iPhone, so I could download apps and try them out. Guess I'll have to settle for talking about them. So, James doesn’t actually know when Flash might be introduced to the iPhone because there is the usual corporate hub-bub to go through. Who is going to make money from this? Apple or Adobe? It always comes down to who’s giving who money. It remains to be seen whether it will happen at all, but it seems pretty likely.
That's all folks
I appreciated James's presentation for the information that he provided about emerging technology in mobile; he really knew his stuff and it was great to hear from someone in the industry. Who knows what the future holds and everything could change depending on what people develop and how the trends shift. I appreciate the human element trend in these mobile devices - here's hoping it sticks around. For more information on the Canadian Mobile Industry, check out http://wirelessnorth.ca.
