Google QR barcode scanning & linking form the real world!

Google blew me (again) away today. They are introducing their new service Google Favorite Places.
This video explains how it works.
Very briefly, a store can put a barcode on its door. Passers can scan the barcode (QR) with their mobile and go directly to the stores webpage. After leaving the shop, one can consider to write a review.

Although the idea of hardlinking is not new, I have never seen an application as what Google is experimenting with.
If there is one company who has the drive and the motivation to get some leverage on new idea's and technology, it is certainly Google. I really like what they're doing!
Think of what else can be done with it :

• In books or magazine, authors can add such a barcode when they referring to something that can be found on the internet. Say hyperlinks in hardcopy books.

• Such barcodes can be printed on all products, directly linking to their product information page (providing much more details than possible on the product's package). Or to some commercial event(contest) around that product.
  

• If all busstops were equiped with such a barcode, one could lookup that particular stop's itinary. Even information of the exact location of the coming bus could be shared. (including an estimation of arrival) Update 20100223 : this application is already implemented. See also QR code on the bottom of the page.

• And so on ...
  

I think this technology has a huge potential to come to our daily life in the next coming years. I'm glad Google is smoothing the way for it.

At this site you can generate QR codes yourself.