If you've picked up one of the 2010-11 men's or women's basketball posters, you will notice a unique symbol on each poster that looks like this:

It's a QR code. Scan the code on each poster and it will pull up a special video message from each team's head coach. The one above takes you to GoUSFBulls.com.

What is a QR code? A QR (quick response) Code is a matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by QR scanners, mobile phones with a camera, and smartphones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data.

How do you scan the QR codes once you pick up a poster? Many Android phones come with QR code readers already installed. Blackberry phones running Blackberry Messenger 5.0 (or more recent versions) can also scan QR codes using the "Scan A Group Barcode" option in the BBM menu. Both the Android Market and the iTunes App Store offer several free applications that can decode QR matrices.

Who else is using QR codes? Largely popular in Japan, QR code usage is growing in the United States. Best Buy has added QR codes to in-store product tags to provide consumers with more detailed information about an item. Fox TV shows QR codes on-screen during some of its programming which viewers can scan for more content about a particular show. Gap places QR codes near products which consumers can scan for product reviews and style ideas.

USF Athletics is one of the first college athletic programs in the country to incorporate QR codes into marketing materials. Look for more Bulls QR codes in the near future!