If you’re in the US and you take public transportation everyday, then you know that the timing is less than perfect. Waiting for the bus, for example, takes up time and leaves you guessing as to when it will finally arrive. In order to facilitate the situation, select bus stops in Florida will be adorned with QR Codes.

LYNX, a bus service that serves central Florida, plans to place QR codes on each bus and bus stop. Once scanned, users will be able to receive a schedule and timing information about the routes in real-time.

To kick-off the program, LYNX has selected popular bus stops to receive large-scale QR codes that commuters will easily be able to spot and scan the codes. By using QR codes, the bus company hopes to improve their relationship with commuters. Given feedback, it is hoped that travel time will decrease, keeping both LNYX and their patrons happy.

While LYNX may only be one bus company in Forida, I see this implementation as something big. Imagine if every bus stop in the country had a QR code? What if you could scan a QR code on your plane ticket and receive up-to-date flight information without having to find a screen in the airport, or navigate through the carrier’s website. The possibilities for QR codes in transportation are endless. Can you think of other uses for them in transportation? Let us know by commenting here, or on our Facebook or Twitter Pages.

If you’ve ever gotten a speeding ticket, you may have noticed that the information was handwritten by the officer, making it difficult to read. Although this system sufficed for years, we now welcome technological advances that offer clarity and time saving solutions.
Paper based systems lend themselves to errors such as smudges, illegible handwriting and content errors. On average, these errors cause 20-30% of tickets to be dismissed, which doesn’t bode well for the police department’s revenue.

In order to improve accuracy, and ultimately save money, more police stations are switching to electronic citations, also known as e-ticking or e-citations. Electronic systems allow law enforcement agencies to rapidly collect data and complete reports without sacrificing time or accuracy. To do this, they are turning to mobile computers, barcode scanners and mobile printers.

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While we often discuss the differences between QR code usage in Japan vs. the US, what about other countries? I recently heard about a unique QR code campaign that is taking Canada by storm.

The Mountain Equipment Co-op(MEC) and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society have teamed up for a campaign called The Big Wild, a conservation movement that allows Canadians to easily stand up for wilderness protection campaigns. With the use of QR code technology, it has become even easier.

MEC has been placing mysterious, poster-siz QR codes throughout 7 Canadian cities. The posters are unbranded, the concept being that their secretiveness will intrigue passersby. Once the QR codes are scans, users will be directed to a pager where they can electronically sign a petition supporting causes relevant the posters’ location.

As people continue to become busier and busier, QR code campaigns will continue to link the real world to the mobile world, allowing users to instantly connect with anything. Props to MEC for using QR codes for the greater good. I’d like to see similar environmental campaigns launched in the US. Tell us what you think by commenting here, or visiting our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Our partners Zebra Technologies and Socket Mobile have recently collaborated in order to offer mobile printing solutions for handheld computers in the hospitality industry.

The partnership with Zebra allows users of Socket Mobile’s SoMo 650 handheld computer to find, and ultimately purchase, printing solutions that will be compatible with their necessary applications. Since those in the hospitality industry need to print receipts on the go, Bluetooth printers are ideal because of their compactness and wearability. For example, if room service is ordered, waitstaff would be able to print the patron’s receipt right before their eyes.

So far, Zebra printers have been approved to work with the Socket Mobile SoMo 650, MZ220 and EM 220.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Zebra Technologies and Socket Mobile receipt printing solution for the hospitality industry, contact us.

LXE recently announced its newest edition to their line of mobile computers, the Marathon. The Marathon boasts a larger screen than a PDA in addition to more powerful computing, yet is smaller than a laptop and offers multiple connectivity options. These features allow for greater levels of usability for field service, route accounting, direct store delivery, and retail operations.

Although many use mobile devices over laptops or PDAs for their mobile operations, some of the current solutions on the market lack ruggedness and don’t offer as large of a screen as the Marathon. With the Marathon, users can experience a ruggedized, PC-based device that features a large screen and excellent ergonomics. In addition, the Marathon features:

• 1.6Ghz Atom processor
• Windows 7 or XP OS compatibility
• 7” outdoor-visible touchscreen
• Integrated fingerprint reader
• 2 megapixel camera
• 2D barcode imager
• Multiple connectivity options

Although the Marathon is not currently on the market, it will begin beta site deployments in September 2010, and shipments to pre-order customers are scheduled for December.

If you’re interested in the Marathon and LXE products, learn more here.