Just like Scratch-n-Sniff but without the Smell
We’ve added a new feature to the Location Review pages that may or may not be useful. But we think it’s pretty damned cool none the less.
The new feature is a little graphic that appears in what used to be some white space above and to the right of the location address information. This graphic is actually a dynamically generated image that is provided to us through one of google’s chart technologies. We’re using this technology to create what is called a QR Code (quick response code).
Here is an example of what the QR Code looks like on the review page (note the big red arrow):
These codes can be scanned via some special software that you can install on many different types of smart phones. Android phones can use the “Barcode Scanner” application to scan the codes. iPhones and Blackberries and other phones can possibly use an application provided by BeeTagg or possibly the Kaywa Reader.
After the image is scanned your mobile device will decrypt the QR Code and show you the information contained within. In our case, a scan will put the mobile version of that page onto your phone, allowing you to bookmark locations you want to visit or look at later.
An example of a QR Code containing the url for the mobile page for 21st Amendment Brewpub:
If you are still a bit confused as to what we’re talking about here, or if you just want to see this scanning technology in action, watch the following 45 second video. It is a bit blurry, but we hope it gets the point across!
2 Responses to “Just like Scratch-n-Sniff but without the Smell”
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Wow thats pretty cool.
QR Codes are everywhere in Japan. The Narita Airport guide has one I can show you. Even (some) beer coasters have a QR Code.
I didn’t have a phone while there, and I doubt I would scan a QR Code anyway. A code can be programmed to order something and charge it to your mobile telephone bill.
(I’ll let you guess [probably correctly] which entertainment medium might do this. And yes; I probably have an example of that somewhere here too.)