“Augmented Reality” is a term that is being used more and more as technology advances. But, QR Codes have been giving people the opportunity to experience augmented reality for years; they just haven’t realised it.

In 2008 Pepsi ran a marketing campaign during which they placed QR Codes on roughly 400 million cans and bottles of their soft drinks. These QR Codes then directed the scanner to an internet site where they would find games, competitions and ringtones. This campaign was viewed as unsuccessful; not because of the technology of QR Codes, but because people didn’t know what to do with these funny little black and white squares!

But with QR Codes appearing everywhere from magazines and national TV through to the clothing we wear, and with Smartphone usage increasing dramatically, people are considerably more savvy to QR Codes than back in 2008. Scanning apps are now free to download and some phones come with them pre-installed; this shows it really is time for QR Codes to pave the way for a new way of reality.

The world is changing, with an increasing number of people understand, and are utilising, QR Codes. ScanMe has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people using their ScanMe QR Codes to connect with the people they meet in the real world.

Using QR Codes as a bring between the real and virtual worlds is not only what marketers want to do, but also what ScanMe is striving for. A social network that brings every person you meet in the real world in to your online social space. A new reality dawns, are you ready to take part?