DANVILLE — Information about the 19 Walldogs murals and Lindley Sign Post Forest will be right at smartphone users’ fingertips.

The Danville Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau has initiated a new program using QR codes to inform visitors about area tourism.

QR codes, short for quick response codes, are checker-patterned squares, which may be seen on everything from in-store displays and for coupons at local retailers, to real estate signs, or on pages of a magazine.

A QR code is a type of matrix barcode — or two-dimensional code — consisting of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background.

Using Danville’s Walldog murals as the first phase of the program, QR code signs will be placed on the wall at each mural beginning next week.

Visitors to the walls may snap a picture of the QR code using a free application on a smartphone. A smartphone is different than a cell phone in that it can access e-mail, instant message, access the Internet, run applications and more.

Each of the codes will automatically load a web page, dedicated to the individual mural, telling about the history and subject of the mural as well as the name of the lead artist, according to Jeanie Cooke, executive director of the CVB.

Cooke said this cutting-edge technology is new for tourism.

“It’s growing at such a rapid pace,” she said.

She explained that basically a person’s telephone camera sends you to a Website for each Walldog mural after a little line scans the code.

Cooke said she believes the first code to be put up will be for the Balloon Classic mural at North and Walnut streets.

“The purpose for it is that we can’t station people at the walls all the time,” she said.

This gives people a way to enjoy the murals even more and perhaps keep them here longer, enjoying some food and drinks, etc., she said.

“Although we handle a large number of Walldog group tours, one can rarely drive through the downtown area without seeing individual visitors at the walls. This is a great way to provide information and give added value to their experience,” Cooke said.

The 19 murals counts the Lindley Sign Post Forest and the Germantown mural that is still waiting on permission from the railroad to be mounted on the railroad overpass just east of Danville High School on Fairchild Street as motorists drive into the Germantown area.

The codes will be attached to the walls. The CVB continues to get building owners’ permission.

“We will do a few at a time,” Cooke said.

The cost can be pennies to a little more for the code signs, depending on the display, she said.

The CVB also will put QR codes in its new Visitors Guide that comes out in May.

“I’d like to see more attractions in the program,” Cooke said.

QR codes could be used, for example, at the Fischer Theatre or Vermilion County War Museum.

If someone comes to the war museum when it’s closed, the code could give the person more information about its hours and displays.

“It just makes it easier,” Cooke said about finding out information.

“We are hoping to work with area attractions to expand the program,” she said. “Whether they are giving the visitor hours of operation, or enticing them to return to enjoy what we have to offer, QR codes allow us to provide information, in a new way, to our customers.”