In the future, you may be able to just scan a bar code on this lady’s butt to get access to her personal profile.
Two months ago, Case Western announced a partnership with the Mobile Discovery telephone company. The two institutions were working together to test out a new technology known as the 2D or QR (quick response) barcode system.
In Japan, where the system is widely used, phones are used to scan bar codes posted on signs and products, providing instant info to customers about things like cost and availability. At Case, they were largely used to students know about events on campus or what the dining halls were serving for dinner…
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2008.