I have a confession, but let’s try to keep this between us. I like to make things simple. Microwaves, online bill pay, toasters, remote controllers, drive-thrus…I could go on but you might think I’m lazier than I am. These nifty little inventions are my best friends. Let’s just say I like to be as efficient as possible in every aspect of my life. If you’re anything like me, and you have a smart phone, you will appreciate the simple genius of the QR code.

What would appear to us as just a strange little design or a smattering of black squares is actually a two-dimensional code that houses data. One of its most simplistic uses, once scanned by someone with a smart phone, is to send the user to a website. Companies everywhere are jumping on this simple bit of technology. If you keep an aware eye out you’ll see QR codes in advertising in the most creative ways. Billboards, posters, print ads – the possibilities are limitless. The days of having to memorize long URLs are ending. Information now has an easier way to jump from company to consumer.

You’ll find QR (Quick Response) codes on everything from your pack of gum in your purse to a gravestone. Yeah, you read me right. Some gravestones have QR codes that link to a website with the deceased’s obituary, photos and life stories. Tell me, what will they think of next?

Jibe has used this simple, yet amazing technology on our business cards to send the user to our awesome (if we do say so ourselves) website.

QR codes can be found all around us and their uses are being found in more and more places as the need for transferring information quickly becomes greater. Take a look at some creative ways to use QR codes here and then try your hand at creating one yourself (don’t worry, it’s easy).

My fellow simplifiers, this is yet another little invention to add to the list of what makes life that much easier…not to mention just a little bit cooler.