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American Business: Cracking the QR Code

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Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#11

Post by eggbrain »

cobrabyte wrote: post #8
eggbrain wrote: post #5

As a consumer, I hate QR codes. They totally obfuscate what is going to happen -- Many times there is little to no information about where a QR code will send me. As an iPhone user, I also need to download an app to read the QR codes, and suddenly I now have another choice to make -- which app is the best quality and least spammy of the ones listed. As a designer, I also think they are quite ugly -- Try putting one o…

Can you print an RFID tag? Can an RFID tag be read off of a billboard? I like RFIDs but I don't think they'll completely replace QR codes. I agree that marketers should explicitly tell you what a scanned QR code is going to do. I've found i-nigma's iPhone app to be the fastest (free) scanner. Blazingly so. QR codes were never designed for public consumption and look quite digital . I like the trend of 'designer QR co…

There are definitely problems with RFID tags, but I think QR codes are even worse. That's why I say it's a stopgap -- maybe RFID fixes its issues, or maybe something completely better comes out, but I don't see QR codes being around 10 years from now (outside of business applications at least).

I'll have to check out i-nigma's app, but this isn't going mainstream until it's integrated into the phone. I believe Android already does (Google Goggles?), but get iPhone on board and we will definitely see the market turn.

I think designer QR codes look better, but this is an issue of putting lipstick on a pig -- it looks better, but not that much better.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#12

Post by jmah »

The real estate signs made sense to me, because if you're interested you'd probably snap a photo of the sign anyway to remember the address and agent. But I don't get why you'd make your customers scan a code in your store -- they're already IN YOUR STORE.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#13

Post by viscanti »

jmah wrote: post #12

The real estate signs made sense to me, because if you're interested you'd probably snap a photo of the sign anyway to remember the address and agent. But I don't get why you'd make your customers scan a code in your store -- they're already IN YOUR STORE.

I think the idea is to find out more about a product. Some people research a product before they get to the store, but some people don't. That's especially true for impulse buys.

I see the value of QR Codes in stores as being a way to quickly give you more information about a product.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#15

Post by cobrabyte »

eggbrain wrote: post #11
cobrabyte wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you print an RFID tag? Can an RFID tag be read off of a billboard? I like RFIDs but I don't think they'll completely replace QR codes. I agree that marketers should explicitly tell you what a scanned QR code is going to do. I've found i-nigma's iPhone app to be the fastest (free) scanner. Blazingly so. QR codes were never designed for public consumption and look quite digital . I like the trend of 'designer QR co…

There are definitely problems with RFID tags, but I think QR codes are even worse. That's why I say it's a stopgap -- maybe RFID fixes its issues, or maybe something completely better comes out, but I don't see QR codes being around 10 years from now (outside of business applications at least). I'll have to check out i-nigma's app, but this isn't going mainstream until it's integrated into the phone. I believe Androi…

I was quite surprised that Apple didn't build-in QR scanning abilities into iOS 5 / iPhone 4s.

They probably share your thoughts regarding the look of QR codes and are waiting for adoption rates to be higher (I.e. 'cross the chasm'). Or they're waiting on a more designer-friendly solution to fill the gap.

I believe Android phones have QR scanning built-in.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#16

Post by callmeed »

Good Lord, it's so sad that mainstream media is helping push this idea that QR codes are good for small business.

Look at the traffic snapshot for that NYC liquor store they profile: http://cl.ly/3s3Q1J3s0x1Y2f3w3V3x

That looks to be about 45 visits for 1 month. FORTY FIVE! That poor lady probably spent 4-figures in cost and time implementing that crap.

I've never seen someone scan a QR code on a storefront in the wild.

I can't wait until these things go away.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#17

Post by TylerE »

teamlaft wrote: post #6
rajpaul wrote: post #2

That is a great video. Before watching it I didn't understand QR codes at all. As a consumer, I've never used a QR code in my life. If companies reward users for using QR codes with discounts, as the video suggests, I would use it. Also, now I understand why a business would want to use QR codes. They help the businesses to track the effectiveness of advertising.

Check out Social Passport (www.socialpassport.net) as it will be totally up your alley. For consumers it creates a QR code which stores all of your social networking information for instant scanning to Like, Tweet, or Checkin somewhere, and then also serves as a digital loyalty card and e-coupon. Merchants incentivize users to get their Social Passports scanned through discounts, contests, and giveaways, and in retur…

Yea, that sounds like a good way to get lots of unfriends. Who comes up with this stuff?

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#18

Post by hsshah »

cobrabyte wrote: post #15
eggbrain wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are definitely problems with RFID tags, but I think QR codes are even worse. That's why I say it's a stopgap -- maybe RFID fixes its issues, or maybe something completely better comes out, but I don't see QR codes being around 10 years from now (outside of business applications at least). I'll have to check out i-nigma's app, but this isn't going mainstream until it's integrated into the phone. I believe Androi…

I was quite surprised that Apple didn't build-in QR scanning abilities into iOS 5 / iPhone 4s. They probably share your thoughts regarding the look of QR codes and are waiting for adoption rates to be higher (I.e. 'cross the chasm'). Or they're waiting on a more designer-friendly solution to fill the gap. I believe Android phones have QR scanning built-in.

Agreed. I have been waiting for iPhone and Android to build QR scanning capability natively in the Camera app. BTW, Android phones (atleast until Gingerbread) does NOT have it built-in either. You have to use Goggles apps (or I prefer RedLaser)

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#19

Post by hsshah »

gravitronic wrote: post #10
eggbrain wrote: post #5

As a consumer, I hate QR codes. They totally obfuscate what is going to happen -- Many times there is little to no information about where a QR code will send me. As an iPhone user, I also need to download an app to read the QR codes, and suddenly I now have another choice to make -- which app is the best quality and least spammy of the ones listed. As a designer, I also think they are quite ugly -- Try putting one o…

The best summary of QR codes that I have heard is "they solve a marketer's problem, not a consumer's problem".

It's certainly a witty statement. I will give an 'upvote' for that. However, I cannot agree with the statement. It may have started the way you are describing however, there are so many practical uses for a consumer as well.

Essentially, it makes the offline work "clickable". There are other technologies as well that serves as a bridge for offline2online (folks have already mentioned about RFID). QR code is just one of them and as with any solution it has it's pros and cons.

I do like the trend of businesses trying to make things interactive, contextual and personalized. I hate typing URLs on my phone so any solution is a welcome one.

As for folks complaining about the aesthetics of the code; there are companies working on making the code invisible: http://www.digimarc.com/ Personally, I would like a non-proprietary technology though; so unless they make it royalty-free; I will continue to favor QR codes.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#20

Post by icebraining »

eggbrain wrote: post #5

As a consumer, I hate QR codes. They totally obfuscate what is going to happen -- Many times there is little to no information about where a QR code will send me. As an iPhone user, I also need to download an app to read the QR codes, and suddenly I now have another choice to make -- which app is the best quality and least spammy of the ones listed. As a designer, I also think they are quite ugly -- Try putting one o…

They totally obfuscate what is going to happen -- Many times there is little to no information about where a QR code will send me.

How so? Every app I've tried (for Symbian) shows me the URL and asks me if I want to load it.

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