Look, I know this sort of “feels” like cool new technology and you want to believe that it might have applications for everything from your conference program and website to your 3rd grade classroom. But stop. Please. You’re trying to turn a barcode into a revolution and it’s just really confusing. It’s not just that normal folks not into the tech scene like you or I don’t get QR codes (they really don’t, nor do they need to), it’s that by taking this thing you’ve found and trying to mold it into some applicable use for your classroom you’re putting the cart before the horse and forgetting what you’re trying to accomplish.
Someone asked me the other day if it made sense to put a QR code on a rotating PowerPoint presentation that plays before a lecture. To their credit they didn’t really even know why they were asking the question, only that they thought they should (see a problem here?). Let’s look at the actual scenario of what will happen in this case:
- QR Code appears on PowerPoint slide. We can assume it probably links to a website.
- The slide probably has some information about what the user should do. “Scan this with your iPhone or Android to ‘Like’ us on Facebook”.
- The user pulls out their phone. If their quick they manage to open the camera application and snap a photo.
- Waiting…
- “Did it work for you Ethel? I don’t think I did this right. Oh I need an app? I can download one.”
- Open App Store
- Search QR Codes
- Click to download 1st app listed on search
- Enter Apple account password
- Wait for download…
- Open app
- Tap “scan”
- Look up and realize the slide is not on the screen
- Wait…
- Slide appears again. Scan
- Browser appears and opens up www.whatever.com
- Success?
People, this is madness. Can we please stop assuming this makes any sense for anyone? Search has come a long way and it’s built into both browsers and many sites. If I need to find you on Facebook all I need is your name, not a link. If I need to find your website it’s probably quicker to search for it than type it in, but both are still quicker than what we just accomplished above. Let’s stop pretending QR Codes are worth the time and effort and move on to something that has real value. As a bonus I now have a new favorite Tumblr blog.
Update: I take it back, I have a new favorite Tumblr.
Tim, I completely agree with what you’re saying here. I also find these cods to be a little bit ridiculous. For me, they serve absolutely no purpose. Then again, I also don’t use a cell phone that would be able to use QR codes in any way, shape, or form. Therefore I find these codes to be ridiculous simply because I can’t use them. I wonder how I would view them if I had a phone that could make use of them? Do you see absolutely nothing positive coming out of these codes? I can imagine them being useful in some situations, but definitely not in the one that you mentioned.
I’m more interested in RFID and NFC technology, not to get all acronym crazy. Basically I think the whole idea of “scanning” something will fade away and more likely we’ll be able to point our phones at an ad and have it deliver something to the phone. But that technology has years to mature and get built in to devices. If anything is going to succeed it needs to be built into the device itself, not require a separate app.
IJAFU
It’s Just a Fracking URL (better yet just bit.ly it)
I agree: just stop! QR codes have always seemed to be a solution in search of a problem. And we have enough of those in education already.
Sometimes what’s even more fascinating than how quickly things become popular is how quickly they become old, or are seen as not nearly the game-changers they seem to be, or are used poorly.