Don't be alarmed - those strange little symbols you've noticed in newspapers and magazines are not signs of a bizarre conspiracy or alien technology.
Known as Quick Response (QR) codes, these two-dimensional bar codes - similar to the UPC on the front of your paper or cereal box - can contain anything from a text message to a phone number to website addresses.
To access a QR Code, a user needs a smart phone with a camera and a QR code reading application (app). The apps are usually free and can be downloaded from sites such as Apple's App Store.
The Citizen plans to use more QR codes in its publications, starting with the Real Estate Weekly.
