How to generate your own QR codes

There's nothing particularly new about QR codes, they've been kicking around the web for ages, ever since they first popped up in Japanese car production lines all those years ago.

At first - I have to admit, I didn't really see the point... Ok they're pretty cool... You can zapp a little image with your mobile phone and it takes you somewhere cool online, but what's so special about that when you can just type the URL into your browser? But as our lives get busier and busier, every little bit of time we can save is becoming increasingly important. Combine this with the huge surge in smart phone ownership we've been experiencing over the past 12 months (last month smart phones outsold their PC counterparts for the first time ever!) You can see why QR codes do have a place in our world.

I've recently started seeing them on estate agent boards in the street which I thought was a particularly good use for them. I've also noticed them being used more on coupons and vouchers - again a good use as it lets people quickly and easily verify the voucher being used.

If I notice any other uses I think are particular good or innovative, I'll be sure to post them here. In the meantime, if like me, you prefer playing with technologies rather than talking about them, take a look at this nifty little API I've discovered for creating your own QR codes within your own web based application.