QR and NFC—A Look at the Mechanics

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QR and NFC are mobile triggers—however, one is printed with ink and the other is a printed circuit.









QR codes and NFC (Near Field Communication) is each a type ofmobile trigger—both are programmed to resolve and deliver specific content suchas directing a user to a landing page, playing a video, or providing a meansfor mobile payment, etc. However, the method in how the information isprogrammed is uniquely different between the two. One is printed with ink andthe other is a printed circuit.
QR codes and other 2D codes aretwo-dimensional barcodes made up of a matrix of black and white squares. Information is embedded in the code as abinary string (think 0’s and 1’s).A person takes a picture using an app, andthe information is decoded. QR codes are almost always the result of some typeof printing to paper or other printable object and can even be printed to alaser printer, provided the resolution is sufficient.
NFC is an electronics component (thinkcomputer chip). The tag is similar to a CD in that there are "readonly" and "read/write" versions. The communication takes placebetween an initiator tag and a receiver tag—the receiver tag has theinformation programmed into it, and is incorporated into a tag or a sticker.You will see many flavors of tags because stickers can have anything printed onthem; the receiver tag is applied behind the sticker, as I have illustrated(above, right).
Chris Lehan is theDirector of Product Development at Impressions Incorporated (a multi-colorprinter in St. Paul, MN specializing in the complete production of customizedprinting and paperboard packaging). http://www.i-i.com
Follow me on Twitter@chrislehan