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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 m

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 of these into your beautifully designed billboard/magazine and it looks pretty terrible. The business side of me appreciates the metrics that come from this, but I think QR is a stopgap technology until RFID readers become mainstream.

cobrabyte 15y ago
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 codes' and error-correction within the QR code's data payload allows for a certain amount of design freedom.
- bradleyland 15y ago
  I'm really baffled as to why you're being down-voted. QR codes and RFIDs share some aspects in common, but the points you outlined are the most relevant differences. RFID also has the issue of discoverability. In order for someone to know that they should scan for RFID, there would need to be some visual indicator. The only reduction in user friction would be the fact that they need not point their phone at the indicator.
- eggbrain 15y ago
  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.
  - cobrabyte 15y ago
    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.
    - hsshah 15y ago
      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)
    - nupark2 15y ago
      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.
gravitronic 15y ago
The best summary of QR codes that I have heard is "they solve a marketer's problem, not a consumer's problem".
- hsshah 15y ago
  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/ 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.
  - potatolicious 15y ago
    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.
icebraining 15y ago
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.
- klodolph 15y ago
  That's after you've already taken out your phone, launched the app, and taken a picture. Three out of four steps.
georgemcbay 15y ago
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.

cobrabyte 15y ago

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 codes' and error-correction within the QR code's data payload allows for a certain amount of design freedom.

bradleyland 15y ago
I'm really baffled as to why you're being down-voted. QR codes and RFIDs share some aspects in common, but the points you outlined are the most relevant differences. RFID also has the issue of discoverability. In order for someone to know that they should scan for RFID, there would need to be some visual indicator. The only reduction in user friction would be the fact that they need not point their phone at the indicator.
eggbrain 15y ago
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.
- cobrabyte 15y ago
  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.
  - hsshah 15y ago
    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)
  - nupark2 15y ago
    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.

gravitronic 15y ago

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

hsshah 15y ago
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/ 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.
- potatolicious 15y ago
  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.

icebraining 15y ago

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.

klodolph 15y ago
That's after you've already taken out your phone, launched the app, and taken a picture. Three out of four steps.

georgemcbay 15y ago

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.