How to use the new normal – QR codes

QR codes means “Quick Response” code: The epidemic has exponentially increased the usage of Quick Response codes. Furthermore, our desire to avoid contact with things and surfaces as much as possible has paved the way for digital ways transmission and reception. These square monochromatic patterns can be swiftly and simply scanned on your phone, making them ideal for checking into a venue or looking at a restaurant’s menu as well as for payments.

QR code working

This technology has been around since the 1990s, much to your surprise. They’re a type of code that stores data in a format that other hardware machines can comprehend. You can scan a QR code to launch a website, register an appointment with a doctor, sign in to a service, get a Wi-Fi password, or install an application. It is the same way that a store checks barcodes to determine the prices of various goods. Just as every item has a unique barcode, every service in the digital world has a unique QR code.

Standard barcodes can only be read in one direction, from top to bottom. However, your phone can read QR codes in both top-to-bottom and left-to-right directions. This means that these patterns can hold a lot more data. It can be up to 4,000 characters of text and can be any type of data. Fascinating! Isn’t it?

It’s incredible how easy it is for your phones to read QR codes. Before the actual scanning, the three black squares in the corners of the graphic tell your phone where the code is. This means that the angle of the camera at which you scan the code is not a problem here, and you won’t need to worry about framing or having a perfectly steady hand.

This technology has come a long way and in this pandemic era, the use of QR codes has substantially increased. However, we should warn you here not to scan the QR codes if they are not necessary. It is because there are potential hackers who can breach your phone’s security by employing malicious content through these QR codes.

If you have updated software on your device, it should be able to detect and stop these fraudulent approaches. However, it’s always a good idea to be cautious while reading QR codes in public locations, especially if you don’t know who’s behind them. Also keep in mind: Caution! Update your browsers asap.

Using QR codes

It’s simple to use QR codes; simply aim your phone’s camera at the code’s image or graphic, and your device will analyze the data as soon as it identifies it. Few applications employ this technology to authenticate users, and all you have to do is follow the instructions. WhatsApp, for example, requires you to scan a QR code on their web client to load your account with all of your contacts and discussions in one place. Thus, QR codes can be used for security purposes as well.

If you stumble across a QR code in public, you may use the camera app on your phone to scan it. Open the Camera app on Android and center the QR code within the frame. You’ll see a link appear on your screen after your device identifies the pattern. To open the link, simply tap it. However, keep in mind that if you have an old device then the camera application will not identify the QR code since it is not compatible with this technology.

On Apple devices, the procedure is pretty similar. When you launch the Camera app and aim your phone’s camera at a QR code, you’ll receive a popup message asking if you want to access the link encoded in the code.