G. W. T. / LetLifeLoose

So, I was browsing the internet when I discovered this thing:

Do you know what this is? Well, try holding your Cellphone camera up to it. It might not work without special software, but try it anyway. Did anything happen?

Well, regardless if it triggers anything or not, I”m sure you’ve seen these, be it in a magazine or on the internet or maybe on a wall or perhaps in a store. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a QR Code.

What is a QR Code? Its a special bar code that holds information, be it a website, text message, a note, or even a phone number. Basically, by scanning it with your cellphone camera — or maybe even your computer’s camera — you can get information instantly.

Some cellphones can do it right away. Others can do it after installing a program or two. Either way, its an amazing way to send and recieve information.

It also makes for a great game of laser tag.

I saw such an idea mentioned for the first time here. QR Laser tag. Stick a QR Code on the back of someone’s shirt and use your phone to play a game of tag. Because you aren’t carrying around a big goofy fake gun, it can be done anywhere. In malls, stores, or even – in an idea I’ve been thinking of for months – across an entire city. Imagine playing a game of laser tag using your Cellphones as weapons across the entire downtown area of your city.

Imagine the epic cellphone duels that would come from it. The thrill of snapping a picture of your target before they can draw their own camera.

Can you imagine using stores as cover, popping a picture of your friend from the display window as they walk by for an instant take down? Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Personally, if I could get a bunch of people to do it and managed to supply a bunch of QR enabled phones, I’d gladly engage in this. With some rigging, you could even make it a spectator sport by linking the QR Codes to Twitter or Facebook and displaying who snapped who’s code.

With some modification, it can even be made into a massive game of capture the flag. Stick smaller QR Codes on your players and huge codes to represent the flags. Snapping pictures of the players will temporarily take them down, while the flag leads to game over.

Just imagine the possibilities. Sounds like fun, now doesn’t it? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be adding the software to do this to my phone. Feel free to make you own codes too while you’re at it.