PostPoints tip: 'QR Codes' defined

You've probably seen it on a Web site or a sticker in a store window by now: a square filled with seemingly random black-and-white patterns. What is it? It's a "QR Code," a specialized bar code that smartphones using the right software can scan with their cameras and then respond to--in most cases, by whisking you to a Web site without your first having to type out a complicated Web address. For example, many developers for Google's Android operating system use QR Codes to point users to their applications' listings in the Android Market, while in the District, the city government plans to post QR Codes on Circulator stops that passengers can scan with their phones to look up bus schedules. But to use any of these shortcuts, you'll need to add a program that reads them. For the iPhone and Android, check out Big in Japan's free ShopSavvy; 3GVision's free i-nigma Reader is another good option that also works on BlackBerry phones. Once you have either program installed, you can try scanning this sample QR Code I've created to see how these things work.