Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
mashable.com
Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
1–10 of 74 posts
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#2... says the CEO of a QR code startup.
I've been anti-QR code for a while—partly just because I like playing devil's advocate—but mainly because I see little benefit and a lot of friction to use "in the real world"
Now, please, someone on HN who isn't a QR-preneur tell me a story of how a QR code in the wild made your life better ...
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#3... says the CEO of a QR code startup. I've been anti-QR code for a while—partly just because I like playing devil's advocate—but mainly because I see little benefit and a lot of friction to use "in the real world" Now, please, someone on HN who isn't a QR-preneur tell me a story of how a QR code in the wild made your life better ...
I've been experimenting with using QR codes just to copy/paste text and bookmarks between computers. It's something that sounds simple, but really there aren't any good ways to do that, especially not once you add mobile devices and computers other than your own.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#4QR-codes can act as a fallback when NFC isn't available on the device.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#5... says the CEO of a QR code startup. I've been anti-QR code for a while—partly just because I like playing devil's advocate—but mainly because I see little benefit and a lot of friction to use "in the real world" Now, please, someone on HN who isn't a QR-preneur tell me a story of how a QR code in the wild made your life better ...
I've used QR codes to exchange contact information with people at conferences, and found it to be the most efficient means to go from meeting someone to having their email address in my phone.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#6The real thing will be image scanning and nothing else. I'll post a video soon here on HN to prove that images are way better "barcodes" than both 1D and 2D/QR barcodes.
What I can say now is: 1. QR codes don't work on distances - state of the art image algoritms do. 2. QR codes mess with the brand appearance - basically H&M don't want a QR code all over an ad. 3. QR codes fail when there's reflection, dark dirt, and very skewed camera - state of the art image algoritms don't. ...
I wish I could post our video today to prove how much more convenient image scanning is - and what we use it for - for non-believers, but I have to wait a few weeks. Until then check YouTube.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#7The real thing will be image scanning and nothing else. I'll post a video soon here on HN to prove that images are way better "barcodes" than both 1D and 2D/QR barcodes. What I can say now is: 1. QR codes don't work on distances - state of the art image algoritms do. 2. QR codes mess with the brand appearance - basically H&M don't want a QR code all over an ad. 3. QR codes fail when there's reflection, dark dirt, and…
...well NFC/RFID will be useful for some scenarios - but they don't work on distance reliably if you want to target "something" directly.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#8... says the CEO of a QR code startup. I've been anti-QR code for a while—partly just because I like playing devil's advocate—but mainly because I see little benefit and a lot of friction to use "in the real world" Now, please, someone on HN who isn't a QR-preneur tell me a story of how a QR code in the wild made your life better ...
Saves me having to open safari and type in long url (better spel it right too). Im a huge fan of getting stuff done faster so if its cuts out a step Im all over it. But Ill admit that QR tech has a some resistance ahead of itself before people get used to it.
Ill agree though that many QR codes annoy me when it just goes to a home page. staples.com is not difficult for anyone to type in...
Im sure there is some character count threshold for the average user where a QR code would be worth the effort of opening the scanner app and scanning it rather than typing in a URL.
Then again there is placement, Im not going to be able to scan a QR code on a freeway billboard or on a car going by but on a subway or bus advert where Im already stuck in a spot for 10-15 mins and probably already have my phone out is great placement. Advertisers and QR codies have to be smart otherwise it will turn people off and it becomes just another thing in our face.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#9Mashable is kind of shameless with the "advertorials" lately aren't they?
I said about QR codes on Twitter a while ago:
"QR codes: like using a megaphone to seduce someone. The ugliest, stupidest, most useless (and used less) tech in a while."
Background:
I worked in the music business for a while, and we always tried to be at the forefront of trends. Because of the position we were in, where we were able to market through technology with built-in lead generation that didn't cost us anything (radio, television, PR, movies, etc), it was a good way to test a technology with a lot of people early on.
QR codes were a flop. We tried them a lot (http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/mobile-marketing-qr-cod...) and they never caught on. We'd have been better off putting a short URL up.
They are inelegant, ugly, and scream of self-justification from people more infatuated by technology they understand (badly) rather than use.
Reminds me of other "mobile marketing" trends, i.e.: ringback tones, ringtones, video ringtones, and anything RIM tries with the music business (i.e., thumbplay). And the Motorola Rokr.
Re: Why QR Codes Are Here To Stay
#10The real thing will be image scanning and nothing else. I'll post a video soon here on HN to prove that images are way better "barcodes" than both 1D and 2D/QR barcodes. What I can say now is: 1. QR codes don't work on distances - state of the art image algoritms do. 2. QR codes mess with the brand appearance - basically H&M don't want a QR code all over an ad. 3. QR codes fail when there's reflection, dark dirt, and…
Wait, what? Can't all of these magical "state of the art image algorithms" be applied to scanning QR codes?