You have seen them already, even if you didn't know what they were. Although they were invented in 1994, QR Codes are only just now popping up everywhere on magazine ads, business cards, games and even jewelry.  Let’s say they are making life a little more interactive. So what are QR Codes exactly? Well, a QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is like a barcode that encodes information such as text, URL or other. It can be read by cell phone cameras as a long as you have a QR Code reader. To make it easier to understand, here’s a little video on how QR Codes work:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HL1o5uVNU4[/youtube]

Interested in playing with the QR Codes everywhere? Maybe even making one for your own business card? Below are the top rated apps for iPhone and Android. We just figured we’d make it easier for you. You’re welcome.

QRDroid: It allows you not only to read QRCodes, but also to create your own.

Google Goggles: Apart from reading QRCodes, Goggles uses image recognition technology to recognize objects and return relevant search results.

Scanlife Barcode Reader: ScanLife turns your camera phone into a all-in-one bar code reader – one of the few apps that can scan QR Codes and UPC Codes found on products.

Optiscan: It allows you to read and create QR Codes – it’s the fastest one we have tried.

I-nigma 4: It reads, creates, and allows you to share your QR Codes on Twitter and Facebook.

QR Reader for iPhone: This one allows you to read, create, share and do everything else possible with a QR Code app.