title: QR Codes: Outlook for Food Science and Nutrition.
abstract: QR codes opens up the possibility to develop simple-to-use, cost-effective-cost, and functional systems based on the optical recognition of inexpensive tags attached to physical objects. These systems, combined with Web platforms, can provide us with advanced services that are already currently broadly used on many contexts of the common life. Due to its philosophy, based on the automatic recognition of messages embedded on simple graphics by means of common devices such as mobile phones, QR codes are very convenient for the average user. Regretfully, its potential has not yet been fully exploited in the domains of food science and nutrition. This paper points out some applications to make the most of this technology for these domains in a straightforward manner. For its characteristics, we are addressing systems with low barriers to entry and high scalability for its deployment. Therefore, its launching among professional and final users is quite simple. The paper also provides high-level indications for the evaluation of the technological frame required to implement the identified possibilities of use.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health and History of Science, University Miguel Hernandez , Alicante , Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanz-Valero
authors.affiliation: b Telematics Engineering Department, University of Vigo , Vigo , Spain.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Álvarez Sabucedo
authors.affiliation: c Health Services Manager, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands Health Service , Fuerteventura , Spain.
authors.forename: Carmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanden-Berghe
authors.affiliation: b Telematics Engineering Department, University of Vigo , Vigo , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santos Gago
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D013685:Telecommunications
keywords: Access to information; food sciences; health communication; information management; information storage and retrieval; information systems; nutritional sciences