Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

American Business: Cracking the QR Code

openforum.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 35 posts

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#21

Post by georgemcbay »

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…

As a programmer, I also think they are quite ugly. Unfortunately their ugliness is pretty much baked in as it is what makes them work effectively (annoyingly high contrast, unbalanced, etc.)

Yes, I do realize there are QR Code "hacks" where the codes are colored and/or integrated with logos, etc to look less ugly and those hacks do look good (or at least less bad) on a web page, but they destroy usability of the codes in the real world (by removing data redundancy, killing the contrast to the point where devices with cameras with low dynamic range won't scan it well, etc).

I don't mind so much the other issues, I like that they can be used flexibly for just about anything from encoding a url for marketing to doing internal inventory management.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#22

Post by nupark2 »

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.

I would assume that Apple doesn't support QR codes because most consumers don't particularly have a use for them.

I see QR codes everywhere in NYC, but actually getting one onto my phone involves stopping, taking my phone out, spending 10-30 seconds with the QR code.

If your advertisement is capable of inducing me to do that much work, that's a pretty fantastic advertisement. However, despite the QR codes being damn near everywhere, I've still not bothered to scan one.

QR codes are, in my estimation, a fad.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#23

Post by potatolicious »

hsshah wrote: post #19
gravitronic wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

And the cuecat made the offline world "scannable". That alone doesn't mean much.

The problem right now is that, between a (short-ish) URL on a poster/billboard and a QR code, I am far, far, far more likely to use the URL than the code.

Why? Because it's easier. Here's what I have to do to scan a code:

- Scroll homescreens/app list over to the code reader app.

- Start code reader app.

- Tap (probably 2 taps, more if the app is not well designed)

- Wait for my camera to warm up (this is really slow on Android and earlier iPhones)

- Hold the camera still over the code. Nope. Even more still. No wait, I'm too close for it to focus. Pull it away from the poster for a second. Wait while the camera hunts for focus in the indoor, dim lighting (where else do you think QR codes are?). Wait for iiiiiiit. There! Code acquired!

- Tap on a button to open the URL inevitably embedded within.

No thanks, I'll type in yourcompany.com/qr faster than that, with less frustration, and less looking like an idiot.

RFID is going to be a great solution to that - but that would require the proliferation of readers first.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#24

Post by jamesbkel »

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.

Agree on both points. Another situation where I've found QR codes useful for the consumer is links within print publications. I would hesitate to follow any QR codes in a print ad, but for something along the lines of a follow-up video to an article, QR codes can be convenient for the reader.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#27

Post by fleitz »

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…

What problem does this solve?

I've never been walking around thinking, "Man, you know what would be cool? If a merchant could incentivize me right now. I wish my digital loyalty card also had an e-coupon so I could checkin somewhere".

Change the pitch to: "Scan this for X free Airmiles" or "Download Social Passport for X free airmiles."

Is it possible to design a QR code that looks like a plane taking off or something?

Who the fuck even knows what a Digital Loyalty card is?

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#28

Post by JimmyL »

QR codes suffer from a bunch of problems - not least of which is that it's cumbersome to read them.

iPhone? Need to find/pick/install/test an app. Likewise for Android (I think). BlackBerry's got reader software baked-in, but you'd never find it organically (why is the easiest way to get it open through BBM's Scan a Group Barcode option?).

In the time it took to do that, a user could have just typed the URL in, and known exactly what would happen. I'm on a BlackBerry, and even though I know how to run my QR reader, it's still easier and quicker for me to just type it in manually.

Similarly, it often seems the people who design posters/ads that feature QR codes have no concept of how you'd scan them - if there's a code on a billboard that's three stories up a building, there's no way my camera will pick that up. Conversely, if the ad is a subway poster (which I'll never be more than 3ft from), you don't need a 4ft diagram.

The marketer in me (and everyone) loves them because they allow metrics down to the individual poster/magazine edition, and make it easy - in theory - to jump from something physical to something online. Actual users don't care about them, because there's no perceived increase in value or convenience over the tried-and-true-and-well-understood method of just Googling the product name.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#29

Post by artursapek »

callmeed wrote: post #16

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 wi…

I too have never seen anyone actually scan one. They won't be around much longer.

Re: American Business: Cracking the QR Code

#30

Post by caw »

potatolicious wrote: post #23
hsshah wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

And the cuecat made the offline world "scannable". That alone doesn't mean much. The problem right now is that, between a (short-ish) URL on a poster/billboard and a QR code, I am far, far, far more likely to use the URL than the code. Why? Because it's easier. Here's what I have to do to scan a code: - Scroll homescreens/app list over to the code reader app. - Start code reader app. - Tap (probably 2 taps, more if t…

Bestbuy has QR codes next to their items in store. It takes you directly to the product's page so you can read reviews and whatnot. I think that's an effective use for them if you've looked at the BB URLs lately.
Post reply on HN