QR codes have become popular tools for advertisers and are beginning to find favor with consumers, but not everyone is happy with the black and white, blocky barcodes. Herbert Bay, owner of Swiss technology company Kooaba, believes that the codes have no place in the world of technology. Bay’s company has been working on a number of image recognition programs over the past six years. The apps are meant to bridge the gap between the offline and online worlds, and the company has released a new program that may serve to dethrone QR codes.
The app, called Shortcut, allows smart phone users to take pictures of anything they like and find information on the subject of their picture. The information is delivered in a similar fashion to QR codes, but will not rely on a visually striking design to be functional. The information gathered using the application is also interactive. Smart phone users will be able to add comments to their findings and share them with friends. They will also be able to tweak some aspects of what they find by adding their own images or commentary.
Bay believes that QR codes are outdated technology and hopes that they will be replaced with more intuitive software. Marketers, however, believe that QR codes are a useful tool and have not yet been persuaded to adopt other mobile technologies. Given that QR codes are exceedingly inexpensive, they will likely remain a favorite for advertisers for years to come.
