Quick Response Codes

Updated 10-24-2012
Presentation Keynote slides (Keynote > PDF > Google Sites)
Karen suggests reviewing http://www.commoncraft.com/video/qr-codes

Are you seeing the square graphics on product labels and posters these days? This is not your Mother's bar code! No, it is a QR Code, or a quick response code. QRs have been popular in Japan for years.

Use a QR Code Reader on your iPhone (many other smart phones too) and point the camera at the code. Like magic the app will convert the graphic to a web page URL, contact information, calendar event, or a brief message.

The code on this page gives you the URL for our website, where you can keep up with our workshop schedule and the shared resources we find.


For iOS 5+ Smartphones with cameras are ideal QR Code and Barcode Scanners. On the iPhone more apps are available with a scan option. Our demonstration will be using QuickMark Classic ($0.99) and QuickMark (free - requires login) and Red Laser RL Classic. Visit the Gear Up for October section of our Must Have Apps page for direct links to the App Store where you can read details and reviews or download and install. These apps also work on the iPad, and you could find scanner apps for other flavors of smartphones.

For the iPhone 5 and iOS 6, the new Passbook app includes a QR Code scanner feature. Hey, anyone out there with an iPhone 5? Step up and demonstrate this app please! Meanwhile, read this iPhone 5 review on Lifehacker.

Two other QR Codes on the eBooks page offer scanning practice. I have found that you can scan off paper and off a computer screen or projected computer screen. Cool!

Making your own QR Codes using a web browser is easy. Let me count the ways (options).
  1. Google It - http://createqrcode.appspot.com/ 

  2. Visit Kaywa - http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

  3. Check this Google Search for QR Code Generators to see if there are more than 6.5 million hits. 

Strategy for storing the QR Codes you generate:

  1. Create them on a computer using the Google or Kaywa site. Create them on your iPhone using the QuickMark Classic app.

  2. Save each image to a folder with a filename reminding of the content. 

  3. Copy each image to a word processing file and paste the text below the image as a reminder of the content. 

  4. Print the document. Cut the codes apart if desired. 

  5. Save the images to your iPhone as an image Album. 

Presentation - PDF

Examples submitted by our members: