QR codes are gaining traction as more people have access to smartphones and their accompanying apps and tools. In the big scheme of things, QR codes are not THAT big of a deal. After all, it’s only a two-dimensional graphic, right? But the potential to engage mobile users as a jumping off point to a mobile environment is huge; it links the user to content (ideally to a mobile-friendly page) without leaving the device simply by scanning the code–no typing required.

We will see more and more QR codes and similar graphics in adverts and venues, mostly for commercial purposes. However, QR code scanners and QR code creators are open to anyone, so the only limitation is your imagination.

I recently wrote a piece on QR codes for The Idaho Librarian, on how QR codes can be used in your library, including tips and best practices for QR code creation and use: “The Quick Response (QR) Code: Graphic Potential for Libraries.” And today I came across a great blog post from the iLibrarian blog, titled “QR Code Roundup: 10 Resources for Librarians and Educators” which shows great examples of QR code use to engage and educate.

The QR code is a simple, cheap, and easy to use graphic with a lot of potential to engage mobile users. Still, lots of education needs to happen before the QR code becomes mainstream and widely understood. But smartphones and camera-equipped mobile devices are on the increase so finding ways to meet these users in their own environment becomes more important, and the QR code is a simple but effective way of doing so right now.