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Home Depot had a QR code linking to a YouTube video showing how to install a garbage disposal. It was right by the product.

by ctingom 14y ago

ben1040 14y ago
This seems like it would be an actual good use of a QR code, if it was specifically labeled as "Scan this to see how to install this product." On the other hand, I just got a bill from my exterminator service. And lo and behold right there next to their address block on the invoice was their URL and an unlabeled QR code. Why in the heck would I ever bother scanning that? Having it there just screams "the owner's kid nephew said that QR codes are all the rage so we had better get one on our invoice."
- canthonytucci 14y ago
  I would bet that it took you to their website. Most unlabeled QR codes are just there to save you from typing.
- bostonvaulter2 14y ago
  Yes, I really hate QR codes that have no labels at all, how am I supposed to know if I want to actually read the content at the other end?
3pt14159 14y ago
If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but none of them do, so you have to provide printed material or a url anyways so there is no real reason to use them now.
- ImprovedSilence 14y ago
  But if it comes down to typing a long ass url in my phone, or pushing a button to scan a code, guess which one I'll pick. Don't impede technological progress just because "not everybody has it"
  - urbanjunkie 14y ago
    Here's how the future will be: Long home button press. <beep> "Siri (or Android version, or WP12 version) , search for <whatever the thing is>" <beep> <Here are your search results>
    - s_henry_paulson 14y ago
      Then consider me loathing the future in advance. To me, people talking out loud to their phones in public is akin to bluetooth headsets. The technology might provide an easier way to let you do something, but you look like an idiot.
      - urbanjunkie 14y ago
        If the price I have to pay is that people like you think I'm an idiot, I'm sure I'll manage. I am curious though, how do you distinguish between people "talking out loud to their phones", and people talking out loud to other people using their phones (ie making a phone call).
        dllthomas 14y ago
        There are a lot of situations where people talking on the phone to other people is annoying and rude. I expect there's substantial overlap with the situations where people talking out loud to Siri is annoying and rude.
        urbanjunkie 14y ago
        And for the most part those situations are not ones where the presence of QR codes would be of significant benefit. Note that I think QR codes are great for things like airline tickets or baggage tracking tags.
        Lockyy 14y ago
        How is using a qr code to get a direct link to what you need even comparable to doing a search on that object and hoping you get relevant information?
- tterrace 14y ago
  Definitely. The first and only time I tried to scan a QR code I took a picture of it on my iPhone, realized a few seconds later that I had to install an app for it, then walked away shocked that anyone actually uses them.
  - joneil 14y ago
    That would be the ideal interface. 1) Open camera from lock screen 2) Take photo 3) If QR code is detected, offer to open it. 4) Later when browsing photos, remember it's a QR code, offer the link again, so that we can come back to it later. 5) If no QR code is detected, treat it as a normal photo.
- ColinWright 14y ago
  > If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a > universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but > none of them do, ... My phone has a built-in QR reader, and it's one of the ones you've mentioned, so that statement is wrong. > ... you have to provide printed material or a url > anyways so there is no real reason to use them now. Except that for those who do have a reader, you've reduced the friction for them. And it sounds like you're saying we shouldn't use new technologies just because some people don't have them yet. That's in interesting idea - it means web developers shouldn't use HTML5, or canvas, for example. Perhaps this is a good idea. Not everyone has Flash capable browsers, so we could finally kill that. Oh, and never write something for the iPhone, because not everyone has one of those, either.

Home Depot had a QR code linking to a YouTube video showing how to install a garbage disposal. It was right by the product.

by ctingom 14y ago

Home Depot had a QR code linking to a YouTube video showing how to install a garbage disposal. It was right by the product.

ben1040 14y ago

This seems like it would be an actual good use of a QR code, if it was specifically labeled as "Scan this to see how to install this product." On the other hand, I just got a bill from my exterminator service. And lo and behold right there next to their address block on the invoice was their URL and an unlabeled QR code. Why in the heck would I ever bother scanning that? Having it there just screams "the owner's kid nephew said that QR codes are all the rage so we had better get one on our invoice."

canthonytucci 14y ago
I would bet that it took you to their website. Most unlabeled QR codes are just there to save you from typing.
bostonvaulter2 14y ago
Yes, I really hate QR codes that have no labels at all, how am I supposed to know if I want to actually read the content at the other end?

3pt14159 14y ago

If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but none of them do, so you have to provide printed material or a url anyways so there is no real reason to use them now.

ImprovedSilence 14y ago
But if it comes down to typing a long ass url in my phone, or pushing a button to scan a code, guess which one I'll pick. Don't impede technological progress just because "not everybody has it"
- urbanjunkie 14y ago
  Here's how the future will be: Long home button press. <beep> "Siri (or Android version, or WP12 version) , search for <whatever the thing is>" <beep> <Here are your search results>
  - s_henry_paulson 14y ago
    Then consider me loathing the future in advance. To me, people talking out loud to their phones in public is akin to bluetooth headsets. The technology might provide an easier way to let you do something, but you look like an idiot.
    - urbanjunkie 14y ago
      If the price I have to pay is that people like you think I'm an idiot, I'm sure I'll manage. I am curious though, how do you distinguish between people "talking out loud to their phones", and people talking out loud to other people using their phones (ie making a phone call).
      - dllthomas 14y ago
        There are a lot of situations where people talking on the phone to other people is annoying and rude. I expect there's substantial overlap with the situations where people talking out loud to Siri is annoying and rude.
        urbanjunkie 14y ago
        And for the most part those situations are not ones where the presence of QR codes would be of significant benefit. Note that I think QR codes are great for things like airline tickets or baggage tracking tags.
      - Lockyy 14y ago
        How is using a qr code to get a direct link to what you need even comparable to doing a search on that object and hoping you get relevant information?
tterrace 14y ago
Definitely. The first and only time I tried to scan a QR code I took a picture of it on my iPhone, realized a few seconds later that I had to install an app for it, then walked away shocked that anyone actually uses them.
- joneil 14y ago
  That would be the ideal interface. 1) Open camera from lock screen 2) Take photo 3) If QR code is detected, offer to open it. 4) Later when browsing photos, remember it's a QR code, offer the link again, so that we can come back to it later. 5) If no QR code is detected, treat it as a normal photo.
ColinWright 14y ago
> If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a > universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but > none of them do, ... My phone has a built-in QR reader, and it's one of the ones you've mentioned, so that statement is wrong. > ... you have to provide printed material or a url > anyways so there is no real reason to use them now. Except that for those who do have a reader, you've reduced the friction for them. And it sounds like you're saying we shouldn't use new technologies just because some people don't have them yet. That's in interesting idea - it means web developers shouldn't use HTML5, or canvas, for example. Perhaps this is a good idea. Not everyone has Flash capable browsers, so we could finally kill that. Oh, and never write something for the iPhone, because not everyone has one of those, either.