QR Codes?

stevew · 08-14-2012, 01:43 AM

Perhaps it's just a random thought, but I had to look up what these things were even called. It seems like you see them plastered everywhere.

1. Does anyone actually scan these things?
2. Am I missing out on something by not scanning them?

JonInMiddleGA · 08-14-2012, 03:04 AM

With the exception of music samples that I believe are occasionally coded with these, the only people I've ever actually seen scan them are marketing and/or brand management people who wanted to see if they actually worked & what happened when they did it.

flounder · 08-14-2012, 05:36 AM

I've tried using them before, but the detection on my phone is really hit or miss. By the time I get it to recognize the code, I could have typed in the URL a few times over.

I could see the utility if it was a really long and complicated URL, but even then it's probably easier to use a URL shortener.

Alan T · 08-14-2012, 06:55 AM

Some stores have them on the sales display of items that I will every now and then scan if I want more information about that product on my phone than what the store simply says.

(ie: scan it, it takes me to a webpage on my phone from which I can look at customer reviews or whatever)

DougW · 08-14-2012, 07:00 AM

Fidatelo · 08-14-2012, 08:07 AM

I've never scanned one, but I do see them all over the place. They look retarded.

Barkeep49 · 08-14-2012, 08:10 AM

I got all excited about this a couple years ago for use at school and then realized "I'm quite digitally savvy. I have a smartphone. I NEVER use them."

Thus ended my excitement.

Ksyrup · 08-14-2012, 08:13 AM

One of my daughter's teachers couldn't be at "Tiger Bash" (basically one evening before school starts when the kids get to go into the school, get their schedules and lockers, and meet their teachers), so he left a paper with one of those codes on it. They scanned it and it generated a text that directed them to the class homepage for information about the semester. Kinda cool, I guess.

Rizon · 08-14-2012, 08:17 AM

I have a friend that does custom QR logos, so once he told me about them a couple years ago I started seeing them everywhere. I have a dumbphone, so I can't scan them anyways.

Young Drachma · 08-14-2012, 10:08 AM

Some brands do a good job with Quick Response codes, but for the most part, we make fun of how poorly implemented they are by most companies/brands/people, etc.

They can be useful used the right way, especially if say, you save a QR code and are sent to a landing page or there's some sort of takeaway associated with it. But just a QR code that takes you to their website? Unless it's a one-off thing? Less useful.

And a QR code on a big billboard that no one can reach? Or in the newspaper? Yeah, not a good use of the technology.

sterlingice · 08-14-2012, 11:14 AM

What are some of the better uses of these? It seems like every smart phone has a reader so there's a market for it, potentially. But how best to utilize them?

SI

Rizon · 08-14-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sterlingice

What are some of the better uses of these? It seems like every smart phone has a reader so there's a market for it, potentially. But how best to utilize them?

SI

Someone can walk around a public place with a QR code on their shirt that links to their website or something they are selling. Examples: a girl with it on her shirt that links to her website where you pay to see her naked.

gstelmack · 08-14-2012, 12:08 PM

One of the best uses I've seen is actually in the Lowe's garden center, where the little info stakes inside potted plants have the Microsoft version of these QR codes that takes you to a web page with a ton more info on the plant.

Raiders Army · 08-14-2012, 01:10 PM

From what I understand, you can have one time use QR codes. I will be using them in our next mobile game. We'll hand out cards in packs of 5 and some of them will have the QR codes for an in-game boost.

Kinda crappy that phones don't have RF capability organic to them...ah well. If it were up to me, I'd put a passive RFID chip in the cards and it'd be simpler.

jeff061 · 08-14-2012, 01:13 PM

I on occasion scan bar codes with amazon app to compare prices and reviews. That's the bar code on the actual product. I never use this QR thing.

Barkeep49 · 08-15-2012, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061

I on occasion scan bar codes with amazon app to compare prices and reviews. That's the bar code on the actual product. I never use this QR thing.

I too do this. Definitely not the same as QR code.

08-14-2012, 03:04 AM	#2
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	With the exception of music samples that I believe are occasionally coded with these, the only people I've ever actually seen scan them are marketing and/or brand management people who wanted to see if they actually worked & what happened when they did it. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

08-14-2012, 06:55 AM	#4
Alan T Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mass.	Some stores have them on the sales display of items that I will every now and then scan if I want more information about that product on my phone than what the store simply says. (ie: scan it, it takes me to a webpage on my phone from which I can look at customer reviews or whatever) __________________ Couch to ??k - From the couch to a Marathon in roughly 18 months.

08-14-2012, 08:07 AM	#6
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	I've never scanned one, but I do see them all over the place. They look retarded. __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

08-14-2012, 08:13 AM	#8
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	One of my daughter's teachers couldn't be at "Tiger Bash" (basically one evening before school starts when the kids get to go into the school, get their schedules and lockers, and meet their teachers), so he left a paper with one of those codes on it. They scanned it and it generated a text that directed them to the class homepage for information about the semester. Kinda cool, I guess. __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." Last edited by Ksyrup : 08-14-2012 at 08:14 AM.

08-14-2012, 11:14 AM	#11
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	What are some of the better uses of these? It seems like every smart phone has a reader so there's a market for it, potentially. But how best to utilize them? SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

08-14-2012, 05:36 AM	#3
flounder High School Varsity Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lynchburg, VA	I've tried using them before, but the detection on my phone is really hit or miss. By the time I get it to recognize the code, I could have typed in the URL a few times over. I could see the utility if it was a really long and complicated URL, but even then it's probably easier to use a URL shortener.

08-14-2012, 07:00 AM	#5
DougW High School Varsity Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Downriver, MI

08-14-2012, 08:10 AM	#7
Barkeep49 Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Not too far away	I got all excited about this a couple years ago for use at school and then realized "I'm quite digitally savvy. I have a smartphone. I NEVER use them." Thus ended my excitement.

08-14-2012, 10:08 AM	#10
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	Some brands do a good job with Quick Response codes, but for the most part, we make fun of how poorly implemented they are by most companies/brands/people, etc. They can be useful used the right way, especially if say, you save a QR code and are sent to a landing page or there's some sort of takeaway associated with it. But just a QR code that takes you to their website? Unless it's a one-off thing? Less useful. And a QR code on a big billboard that no one can reach? Or in the newspaper? Yeah, not a good use of the technology.

08-14-2012, 12:08 PM	#13
gstelmack Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cary, NC	One of the best uses I've seen is actually in the Lowe's garden center, where the little info stakes inside potted plants have the Microsoft version of these QR codes that takes you to a web page with a ton more info on the plant. __________________ -- Greg -- Author of various FOF utilities

08-14-2012, 01:10 PM	#14
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	From what I understand, you can have one time use QR codes. I will be using them in our next mobile game. We'll hand out cards in packs of 5 and some of them will have the QR codes for an in-game boost. Kinda crappy that phones don't have RF capability organic to them...ah well. If it were up to me, I'd put a passive RFID chip in the cards and it'd be simpler.

08-14-2012, 01:13 PM	#15
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	I on occasion scan bar codes with amazon app to compare prices and reviews. That's the bar code on the actual product. I never use this QR thing. __________________

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