Contrary to what you might be thinking, these are not images of yet another crop circle hoax. This is what is known as a 2D barcode which has been mown into a wheat field for a special project called “Hello, World!”. 2-dimensional barcodes, often referred to as “QR code” have become ubiquitous in Japan and are also used in Europe. QR code (“QR” for Quick Response) was developed in 1994 by a Japanese company to replace traditional barcodes. Since they can store much more information and aren’t limited to numerals, many different applications for this new breed of barcode have become possible.
Beyond the supermarket checkout line, 2D codes can transmit web site addresses, text messages or physical coordinates, for example. Anyone can print up their own QR code for free, and all that is needed to decipher it is a camera phone. You just point, click, and software which comes in pre-installed in some phones (or can be downloaded without charge) decodes the message instantly. Here’s a Japanese commercial to demonstrate:
And here is McDonald’s take on QR code:
Although the original black and white code is still a standard, the next generations of colour codes can carry yet more information. The first 12 stanzas of the poem “The Walrus and The Carpenter” by Lewis Carroll, are encoded in the example to the left, which is about 2300 characters. With dozens of designs presently offered on the market in black & white and colour, there is no consensus in sight on what the standard will become. A blog called 2d Code monitors all the latest developments of this rapidly evolving technology and invites readers to participate. What truly attracted me to this topic, beyond the practical applications of this technology is the code itself, which I find graphically interesting. Here are other samples I’ve collected:
Creative uses. In their latest video for the song “Integral”, the Pet Shop Boys used QR code to reinforce the theme of the song — a commentary on the erosion of civil liberties. In the video, there are over 100 single frames of QR code which can be captured by pausing the clip. This instantly connects the viewer to various sites, online news articles and forums featuring campaigns for freedom and civil liberty.
Personally, I’m divided as to what to think about this technology. In a way, I see this code as a convenient way to transmit information that could just as easily be taken down with (gasp!) pen and paper. In another sense I am attracted to technology which allows for multiple layers of information to be conveyed in a creative way, as in the Pet Shop Boys video and I’m sure the possibilities could be further explored. And then of course, having been thoroughly schooled in the horrors of the second world war and with visions of 1984 on my brain, I couldn’t help but think it wouldn’t be very difficult to tattoo or implant those codes into individuals to better track movements and habits... But then that’s me being paranoid and people had similar arguments about the original barcodes. So who knows?
With thanks to Kevin Kelly's Lifestream
January 25, 2008
(re)Discovering the 2nd Dimension
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10 gave their feedback:
The video was awesome, and your concerns are not ill founded. We've already moved more and more into being a police state, and these kinds of technologies will allow more convenient means for governments to gain control. On the other hand they do have constructive and creative uses. It's a tool, and like a tool, it can be used to destroy or to create, depending on the intentions of the person behind it. This is why as citizens it is important for us to put the fear of the people into the government, and not the fear of the government into the people.
Well said, square 1.
I like the look of these. I can totally see them hanging on the wall in some art museum!
Square1: You make good points. It's funny because usually I'm the one pointing out that tools are not or bad, it's just what you do with them. I've said that so many times about blogging to my ex who said that blogging was evil. OMG. So of course these codes can have all kinds of applications, good and bad and in-between. I'd never heard that expression "put the fear of the people in the government...". Makes sense to me. I'd rather we do away with fear altogether but that's a different story.
Eve: I wouldn't be surprised if they did end up being the object of an exhibition. I've seen pictures of people putting them on clothes and making them into needle projects and all kinds of things. Very cool.
Well the poet Stanley Kunitz DID write "live in the layers", but I doubt if he anticipated this incredible layering of information through technology. A piece of neuronal webbing, really, if you think about it. And beautiful too. As for its applications, both for better or worse, it's always the same story isn't it? the cell finds another cell and then an organism evolves and then...etc. (think it's time I go to bed. 'night, kiddo)
Lee: you lost me at neuronal webbing. I looked it up and I have a general idea of what it is, sort of. But sure. If you say it, must be true.
Your last paragraph brings us down to earth with a thud! It will become easier and easier for governments (and private contractors employed by governments) to track us in everything we do. And we will hear the fatuous argument: If you're not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about.
"neuronal web" - as I said, I was due for some sleep. As a matter of fact, I think I could use a bit more (just to keep the old neurons meshing) catch you later.
I was thinking in French, apparently - 'filet neuronal" instead of 'neural web'. guess the neural filter was in need of cleaning ;-)
They seem to me more versatile, aesthetically pleasing and more easily disguised as harmless, pretty images which does in fact make them more insidious than bar codes.
These things are all over the place in Singapore now. Click and you get info on a movie. Click and you can find out the latest happenings at some theatre in town. Click and you and get a discount voucher on your phone. It's a lot of fun really but I refuse to snap as that means some anonymous company out there has my personal mobile number and can track my 'clicking' habits. I did something like that once and was bombarded by all kinds of ads and crap. Took a long while and some protest phone calls to get my number off those lists. And I kinda like it that way. :P
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