It really was just curiosity that made me do this. I’m seeing QR codes (the name for that ugly binary object you see above) everywhere now. One of my employer’s competitors used one as the entire content of a tongue-in-cheek ad recently, with only the caption, “OK, whose bright idea was this?” The link, of course, led to a web page describing their latest product … a cheap, crappy, plastic, Chinese-made console, as it turns out.
The code is surprisingly robust and can withstand resizing, color changes, and all sorts of clutter surrounding it, and indeed I can read this one right off my screen, so I wondered what would happen if I made a QR code my profile picture on Facebook. Â So, I did so and used it to direct people (perhaps you?) here to this blog. Â Of course, it’s only a temporary thing; if you’re arriving here a week or two later, you’ve probably read an article or two before finally finding this one, and you’re probably using the letters W, T, and F liberally.
Sorry for any confusion, and thank you for (perhaps unwittingly?) participating in my little social experiment.
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They are being used in puzzles for geocaching. I thought it was great fun. http://coord.info/GC2KVCX or
http://coord.info/GC2KFPM
Some are in the field puzzles that have the code in the box.
One of the geocaching travel bug suppliers are using them as a tb for a car.
The tag reader takes you straight to the web page and you can log your find.
I think it has unlimited possibilities!
Jane
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QR codes are indeed ugly. Personally I’m hoping blotcodes catch on – they are far more lovely:
http://blotcode.com/
The 2D Sense iPhone app can read them, amongst others.
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Scott,
One of my colleagues sent me the link to your blog in which you apparently refer to our new product. He thought I would be angry, but I am actually quite pleased. In the past, whenever your employer has bashed my company or its products, it has always been a harbinger of significant success. Besides, except for “crappy” which is a subjective opinion, and “plastic”, which is no more or less true than for any other console, the other attributes are completely correct: Cheap, Chinese-made Console. So thanks for the plug.
Regarding QR codes, yes, they are rather unattractive aren’t they? We used them for this ad as an experiment too. And we also used them in our NAB exhibit as info-links on each of the products on display. I’m not sure how useful they were. I’ll have to ask marketing if they made any measurements.
Regarding your other blog entries about your church, I am saddened. The Christian church should be the safest place in the world for anyone — Christian or not — to receive comfort, support, love and guidance. I pray you find a church to meet your needs.
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This isn’t my employer’s blog, and my personal opinion is just that. Personal. I also did not identify the ad or manufacturer to which I referred. You may have to wait a bit for that harbinger. Thanks for your other comments.
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Yep, QR codes are ugly. They certainly are able to hold lots of varied types of information, though, and perform varied actions with different results. For instance, instead of a simple web page redirect, a QR might hold an entire VCard address book entry, or a photo. Cool stuff.
BTW, did you lay hands on the console you’re evaluating? How then can you make an accurate evaluation?
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I think you’re confusing the terms “accurate evaluation” and “opinion.” I haven’t “laid hands” on Pam Anderson, either, but I know plastic when I see it, and I’ve formed an opinion.
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That’s very funny! But a good illustration of why opinions aren’t necessarily accurate 🙂
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Blobbo, do you know something about Pam Anderson others don’t?
I am simply amused that high ranking officials in a rival company feel threatened enough to debate the topic on someone’s personal blog. The “crappy” reference was a throw away comment and not the focus of the blog. Reality check, please.
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Well…this was intriguing. I came because of curiosity about the QR code, and now I have curiosity about this cheap, Chinese-made console.