It is appearing just about everywhere now and it would seen on most of the products that we buy and a few more besides, we are talking about the QR code.
The QR code is really just a type of barcode that has been modified and looks somewhat different, but basically it works in the same way. ; There is a slight difference in that although they encode data in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The Japanese first used them with great success to track and trace automotive parts but quickly came into wider use when it was realised by marketing departments that they could became a useful marketing tool as consumers could scan them using their mobile phones. As a result they are now appearing on many other items of literature, magazines, websites and some have been spotted on TV commercials.
The QR code can be used to tell the reader a lot of information that would be hard to put on a label, they can use them to direct customers to their web sites or to visitor attractions in a holiday hot spot. Pretty well all new Smartphones have the ability to read the codes without any further downloading and this will include an iPhone, where you can choose from the multitude of QR reader apps on the App store, many of which are free. Anyone in doubt about the future should look at how we now have a world where it is difficult to buy an item in a store if the barcode is not present!