QR code’s have been around since 1994 but I don’t think they ever really took off in the mainstream because people didn’t know what to do with them. They are very handy for a lot of applications but you use to have to have a separate code reader and it was beyond the capabilities of most smart phone users.
I love the fact that they are such a major staple of outdoor dining now. With restaurants having a QR code on the table that will take you right to an online menu rather than touching a physical menu.
It also helps that the camera on your phone now knows how to read them.
Sometimes technology can be a good thing (says the guy complaining about technology last week).
A History of Stupidity 