Plates with QR code to be placed at Yerevan monuments

August 26, 2011 - 14:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Special plates with QR code have been placed at 7 monuments in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan.

A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) designed to be read by smartphones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, a URL, or other data. QR codes storing web addresses may appear in magazines, on signs, on buses, on business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information.

Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser.

In a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Director of the Yerevan Center of Technology Management Ara Yaghjyan informed that till September 20, similar plates will be stuck to 37 monuments and 20 buildings which are objects of cultural and historical value.

“Lots of tourists will be in Armenia during the celebrations of the republic's 20th anniversary of independence and this program was developed to provide guests with complete information. As of today, plates have been installed at the monuments to Komitas, Ivan Aivazovsky, Martiros Saryan, Stepan Shahumyan, Alexander Myasnikyan, Arno Babajanyan and David of Sasun,” Yaghjyan said.

“Each of QR codes will direct the user to monuments.yerevan.am website which contains information about the monuments in three languages – Armenian, Russian and English,” he added.

On the initiative of Yerevan city administration, the program is being implemented by Yerevan Center of Technology Management and City of the World foundation.

‘We are programming the entire process, i.e creation of the code and the plate and its further placement. The content is being supplied by City of the World foundation. We have addressed a number of banks and companies with a financing request,” Yaghjyan said.

Created by Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. The QR code was designed to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.