QR codes I actually want to see

I have a love hate relationship with QR codes. These two dimensional bar codes are super duper ugly. Most of the time, if I actually decide to scan one, I discover that it is completely pointless (don’t worry nowhere near as worthless as CueCat). But from time to time, I will be pleasantly surprised and find myself saying… wow, now that was a useful little blemish.

I think I’ve boiled my pleasant surprise down to a few factors:

I want to see a QR code when

• I want specific information or a specific web location


• right here, and on my phone


• right now


• the site or info is difficult or time consuming to find on a phone

Bonus points if it’s sensitive to the situation I currently find myself in. Do what you can with what you know about where the code is printed.

Here are some great times to use QR codes and people (okay, at least people like me) would love to scan them.



√  More information – Museums, exhibits, displays
 I want to know more about this painting, sculpture, display – but searching for it is hard (this is this particular artist’s Untitled sculpture… one of six hundred… great), and I want the information now.  Bonus points if you give me super awesome content.

√  Help yourself – Take a number, check in
If you need me to go online to check-in, fill something out, make sure I paid, or whatever else while I’m waiting… it could be awesome to put up a QR code to link me quickly to whatever page that nonsense can be found. Like the butcher shop, let me “pull a number” then use your app to tell you what I want, and you let me know (via my phone or otherwise) when I’m good to go. Put my name on the list, let me get in line – whatever. There are places where it is important to physically be at the place to queues up but that should be enough.

And you’re awesome for not making me install an app, even more bonus points.

√  Get real time updates – Bus stops
Again, something that can be pretty annoying to search for on a phone – typing in all of this information when you’re literally standing at the spot which represents all of it… this seems like a great place for a QR code.

An anecdote about implementation and reminder that a little testing goes a long way: Here in Austin, some stops only show you a QR code and a phone number. That’s right – no phone, no luck. A lot of the people who ride buses in Austin don’t have smart phones – they get an automated phone system and can attempt to press-7 their way to something resembling route information. The rest of us can scan – except when the system fails and returns a “not found” error.

Another thing to mention is that GPS might be enough for bus stops. If your app/site is location aware, then where I am be enough to allow me to easily find my stop without typing in a whole bunch of stuff. There are other situations where real-time info might be more helpful - scan the QRC on my boarding pass to find my baggage claim/connecting gate. Scan the code on my table at a restaurant to see if my order was put in/my food is on its way (okay maybe that one is neurotic).

You could call it a pet peeve

[caption id="attachment_97" align="alignright" width="201" caption="Wearing a QR code instead of handing out cards seems a bit … forward thinking, but it makes more sense: saves trees, and multiple people can scan you at the same time."][/caption]

Χ  Business Cards
Yeah it’s sort of snazzy – but I already have this card with your name on it. I (hopefully) am not going to stop talking to you right now to check out your site (if that’s even where your code sends me, because I have no idea until I scan). Instead I’ll probably wait until I have some time later. At which time I might be at my computer. Now I’m typing in your website and have completely bypassed that mysterious ugly mark on the card which has each and every time proven worthless to me.

Best-case scenario the QR Code downloads a vcard to my phone, and you have at least kept me from having to get your info from the site into my address book.

The right time to use ‘em

The examples I’ve given all treat QR codes as a supplement to what’s being offered.

In the museum example it’s the “more information” link on a physical sign/exhibit. In the take a ticket/queue example it allows a customer to help himself rather than wait for an attendant (think airport ticket counters vs kiosks…everywhere).  And finally the bus stop example (well in a perfect world) it supplements a general guide for route and schedule information by providing real-time updates.

When QR codes simply provide information that’s already been offered (a business card with a QR code simply to that information again), or an ad with a QR code directly to the product’s home page… they lose a large amount of their usefulness – and just irritate me that I went through the trouble to get very little in return.

Also: just for fun.