QR Codes: Some Interesting Facts

1. QR codes don’t have to be black and white – As long as the contrast between light and dark areas is great enough for readers to detect, you can create branded QR codes to help promote your business.
2. QR code scanning grew 1200% during the last quarter in 2010.
3. The largest QR code on record was created by Audi, which measures a whopping 159 square meters (that’s 1711 square feet, for the non-metrically inclined).
4. The iPhone is the most popular scanning device for QR codes.
5. QR codes were first introduced in 1994 – The Japanese firm, Denso Wave Inc., first created QR codes for the sole purpose of tracking vehicle parts.
6. Two-thirds of all QR codes are scanned by women.
7. Print media accounts for only 1% of all scanned QR codes.
8. “Extreme Scanning” is when users excessively scan QR codes hundreds of times more than the average user – Contests appear to be the driving force behind this phenomenon.
9. Over one-fourth of all scanned QR codes were scanned by 35-44 year old consumers.
10. Excluding Japan, the United States has the highest QR code usage rate than any other country.

Fun Facts:

According to a survey by JumpScan.com, 52% of participants had seen or heard of QR codes. Of those who use social media, 57% of Facebook and Twitter users said they have scanned a QR code at least once in the past year and as many as 40% had done so five or more times in the past year. From July to December of 2010, there was a 1200% increase in the scanning of QR codes. The OS used most to scan QR codes is Apple (68%), followed by Android (26%) and Blackberry (4%). The world’s largest QR code was 159 square meters and created by Audi to celebrate 100 years of car manufacturing.

Clever Uses:

Starbucks is using QR code technology to make it possible for you to pay for your daily caffeine hit with their mobile iPhone app. It works like this: punch in your Starbucks card info, verify some details, and the iPhone app becomes the gift card. A secure QR code is generated for the barista to scan when it comes time to pay for your coffee. Starbucks is now taking iPhone app payments in over 1,000 Target stores nationwide.