[bmelton]

Technologically, they are fairly dissimilar, but on use cases, they're more closely aligned to the layperson than their tech distinctions would indicate.

Both require relative proximity -- in the case of the pet sensor, physical propinquity is a constraint imposed by the technology, while a QR code, that constraint is imposed by the camera attempting to read it. Either way, you have to be close.

Both technologies act as a bridge for data. In the case of the pet sensor, it basically encodes a unique ID, which is then used to query against a database housed elsewhere, which holds the real information. In the case of the QR code, the same is basically true -- the real payload is after the redirect.

Either way, the mechanics aren't too different -- get close to something, read (or scan) it, and be taken to wherever the magic really happens.