Re: QR Codes
Google is using QR codes with businesses for mobile purposes, I think that's the first serious push with QR codes in the west (I think it's kinda like you can point your phone at a QR code in a restaurant window, give it a review which is uploaded to Google Maps or somewhere online). But QR codes have been around in Japan for ages and is quite mature. They get artists like Takashi Murakami to collaborate on 'creative' QR code designs:
[IMG]http://www.psfk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/lv-qr14-212x300.jpg[/IMG]
Some people in Japan have also built 'installations' that form QR codes so people can point their mobiles at it and connect online for more info or participation.
But I won't be surprised if QR codes will be phased out soon (kinda like Bluetooth on mobiles, there was never anything really useful for that besides transferring files between machines), last I read there is a 'dot' design (not the micro QR code) that is smaller and packs more information.