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(Note: Thanks to Joe Grimm at the Poynter Institute for talking about this technology.)

More newspapers are now adding two-dimensional barcodes to their stories. These QR (for Quick Response) barcodes work with mobile phones. The software in the phone can send the reader to a web page for more information, provide the user with contact data or background information, send a pre-arranged SMS or display a text message.

All that is needed is free software and a smartphone such as a Blackberry or iPhone.

The first step is to download a free QR reader to your phone.

I went to QR Stuff to find a reader for my phone. I used my phone's web browser and went to the appropriate site. (I use i-nigma.) In most cases once you navigate to the download section, the web site will automatically read what type of phone you have and start loading the software. (I had to visit a few sites before I could find one that accepted my phone. If you have a Blackberry or iPhone, you have more options.)

Once it is loaded you will be able to read any QR code.

Download the software to your phone and check out the two items below: