I've stated previously that one of the most important trends occurring in society today is the blurring between virtual and physical worlds. For some reason, not too much attention has been paid to the impact of this trend on society. This trend is evident in the growth of MMORPG and the amount of time individuals are prepared to devote to creating and building a virtual identity (and, as has been reported by BusinessWeek, the real-world crossover with traditional financial markets and income generation). What's missing is a link to connect real to virtual. We are building two separate worlds, and doorways between the two are limited. We have to stop activities in one in order to enter the other.
I've been researching QR codes as a first generation doorway between virtual and physical worlds. A QR code is a graphic/matrix/barcode that can be scanned with reading software in cell phones. For example, while reading a magazine, or driving past a building, the code can be scanned by the camera phone, and will then launch the website in the phone's browser. But don't be fooled by the simplicity. It's a first round attempt to blur and integrate our ability to exist in both physical and virtual worlds...and move seamlessly between the two. While non-existent in North America (and Europe, I believe), QR codes have caught on in Japan. I'm exploring the value of inserting QR codes in my upcoming book...though the purpose is defeated when it's limited to one or two countries...the main point I'm trying to make is how we can no longer perceive these two spaces (virtual/physical) as exclusive to each other.