How to generate QR Code?

Friends, it is time to get into the new mode of transferring information without anyone else knowing it. I think that you are guessing about Bar Codes and you are absolutely right. Well, technically they are not Bar Codes, they are known as Quick Response codes or simple QR codes.

QR code was developed by Denso Wave (Toyota subsidiary) to monitor vehicles and parts. QR code is a 2-dimensional code and can store large quantity of data with different formats, i.e. plain text, URL, numbers, signs, kanji letters, etc.

That is enough for the so-called introduction of QR code and now, we will proceed to our main topic:

Generating QR Code

• Generating QR code is very easy and doesn’t require any software to be installed. Of course there are softwares for offline users, but if you are in a hurry then there are always few online methods that will do exactly what you need.
• Generating QR codes through Kaywa website is one such method. This site has a very simple layout and generates quick response codes in snap.
• The site supports URL, Text, Phone Number and SMS as content type.
• You can select the code size among four levels, i.e. S (small), M (medium), L (large) and X (extra large).
• Here are few examples of the QR codes that I generated with the help of this site.

I) Content Type: URL

Content: kksonakiya.hubpages.com

II) Content Type: Text

Content: Join me in my quest to write several informative articles on HubPages. Checkout my profile!

III) Content Type: Phone Number

Content: 1234567890

IV) Content Type: SMS

Content: NR (number) – 1234567890

Message – How you doing?!

• The process is really easy and to the point. There are several sites that do exactly the same and this is why I am not recommending anyone specifically.
• Just put a query in Google: “QR code generator online” (without quotes) and you will see several sites for the same job.
• Open them and bookmark (CTRL + D, this shortcut is for every browser) the ones that you like because of functionality or simplicity or whatever.
• Now all you have to do is put your information that you want to share and convert it into a QR code, then send it via picture message or email and your friends will get your information without anyone else knowing about it.
• You would need a Bar-code reader though (obviously) and nearly all latest Smartphones have a barcode scanner app that you can download and install from their respective app market.
• This is a very nice method to share information and feel like a spy (or something)!

Generating QR Code on Android Smartphones

To explain this method, I am going to be using Samsung Galaxy Ace. Let us proceed then:

• I find QR Droid a great free QR code generator app for android Smartphones.

• It is very light and comes with several features.
• You can scan QR codes from it (like a barcode scanner) and you can scan them from a saved image file too.
• It means that you don’t have to point your camera at the code; you can just open your email, memory card, etc., and scan that image your friend sent you and read the encrypted information right there.
• You can tap Share tab and create QR codes for Biz. Card, contacts, URL address, calendar event, geo-location, local image, e-mail, SMS and Phone Number.
• These are some great features if you think about it.
• The process is same for the app too. You just tap (if you have touch-screen) the content type that you want to use and fill out the information and tap to generate the QR code.
• For example: Tap Plain Text to create a QR code with a plain text. Fill out the information in the next screen and Tap the green arrow that clearly indicates that your QR code will be generated.
• The application takes few seconds to generate the QR code (like the website) and you can easily tap to edit the settings of the QR code.
• You can change the size, color, add logo, add label or encrypt it so that it is not readable by other QR code readers (or barcode readers). You have to be careful though because you or your friend would need QR Droid 4.0 and up to decrypt the code and get the information.
• I included the pictures to walk you through the app.

This is it for this article. I hope the process was easy to follow and since there was absolutely nothing confusing about the whole idea, I guess I just walked you through a very obvious solution for generating QR Codes.