While at the airport in Tokyo, I noticed an interesting bit of cell phone technology I’ve never seen in the states, QR Codes.

Here’s a blog description I found:

QR codes are 2D barcodes that are widely available in Japan. Consumers, for example, use their cell phones to take a picture of a QR code and automatically access a corresponding website.

According to a recent research conducted by C-NEWS, more than 70% i-mode cell phone users knew QR codes and almost 60% people actually used QR codes. Not surprisingly, QR codes are more popular among younger people (<29 years old). This research is based on questionnaires answerd by 400 users of the following i-mode cell phones: 900i, 506i, 505iS. (via ITMedia, October 25, in Japanese)

QR codes could be generated by anyone with access to a printer, unlike RFID or other more sophisticated technology. They have the potential for making the mobile web a lot more useful by delivering locally relevant information without requiring typing. It seems possible that QR Code reader could be built as an application on top of existing camera phones. (Not that I have one…) Would be a great hack for someone to pursue.

(I’m writing this, by the way, from the Yahoo Cafe at Narita Airport. Free internet access– thanks Yahoo!)