'Smart phones read the Star'

The Star has become the first newspaper in Kenya to integrate QR ( Quick
Response) codes in its newspaper. A QR code is a type of matrix barcode
(or two-dimensional code). The code consists of black modules arranged
in a square pattern on a white background. Information can be  encoded
and be made up of any kind of data.

The square “quick response” codes
turn URLs, vCards, or any kind of text into a jumble of pixels that you
can scan onto your smartphone instantaneously, no typing required.

In
the Star’s case the code has been configured to direct a mobile phone
scan directly to the  mobile version of the Star’s website. QR codes
are easy to generate, a quick search on any search engine  provides
various websites that provide tools to encode text information to a
‘scannable’ code in the space of a minute. QR codes  were created by
Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota to track vehicles during the
manufacturing process., recently the codes have been configured to carry
information like business cards, product details, addresses.

With
the smart phones penetration in the Kenya market increasing, custom-made
options for 3G mobile phones are in demand. Digital consumers are
increasingly using their phones to perform various functions.

To read
a QR code a phone needs to have an in-built bar scanner which can also
be downloaded for free in the various mobile phone user markets. With
digital media playing an  important role in information consumption the
Star newspaper has embraced QR codes as a quick and smart way to lead
traffic to its mobile website.