Designed as a high-tech marketing resource, QR (quick response) codes have many useful applications. These (usually) black-and-white algorithmic codes are gateways to a potential multimedia nirvana.

Apple Inc., whose Apple Pay is the leading mobile-payment service based on near field communication technology, reportedly is testing Quick Response codes as an alternative technology with Apple Pay.

Scanning QR codes with smartphones is easy. However, sometimes you don’t want to use your smartphone and wish to scan the QR code natively on your computer. The good news is it’s possible to scan QR ...