QR Code Fatigue

The article's title of "QR Code Fatigue" struck me as a little funny. It's not like they're wide-spread and I don't think anyone really uses them anyways (the terrible numbers bear that out). Unlike the more well known phrase "Clinton Fatigue", QR codes where never known by or felt &#60;em&#62;forced upon&#60;/em&#62; by a majority anyways.<p>Maybe marketing companies (which seem to be what the article is based on) is starting to give up on the things, but that's hardly fatigue; it's a simple ROI decision. That's enough time wasted on that.<p>One thing about the article is that it is based almost exclusively on a marketing-based use case. I think it stinks for marketing, because nobody wants to actively seek out a sales pitch, especially one with a bit of friction like QR codes. Now, if you use QR codes for work, then that's a different story. I worked with a couple guys on a film tracking system for a film festival and posting QR codes on canisters, vehicles, and locations for the purpose of "checking in" was quite effective.

The major problem I see with QR Codes is that they tend to be 'naked'. They're an opaque blob of stuff and it's not clear what I'm going to get for scanning one. They seriously need to be accompanied by some sort of text and it would be ideal if there were some standard for how that text was presented so I can quickly figure out if it's worth scanning.<p>This is especially true of QR Codes because the use of them in public is asking people and not machines to interact with them. Contrast with barcodes and MICR codes which were primarily there to be read by machine but both are human readable (almost all barcodes have their number equivalent below them).

If you want me to go to your website, just print your URL. That worked just fine for years.<p>Otherwise, make them do something useful or GTFO.

Ah, the bi-weekly anti QR-Code rant. QR Codes are amazing, have wonderful potential but are under-utilized at this stage. And just for the record, for everyone who still thinks Japan uses a lot of QR Codes. Just came back from 2 weeks in Singapore. Singapore &#62; Tokyo.

&#62; <i>For some reason, advertisers have put them on posters found in subways and in United Continental’s Hemispheres In-Flight Magazine, places where travelers usually don’t have reception. Such examples have made QR codes the butt of jokes. A blog called WTF QR Code contains photos of poorly placed codes that no one could reasonably be expected to scan, such as on a billboard along the highway or inside a liquor bottle.</i><p>That's hilarious! I never even thought of that when I see them on the subway.

One of the biggest problems with QR codes, is the resulting page is typically a standard / flashy desktop site, which isn't optimal for a mobile device. I imagine if the landing page were mobile-optimized (quick information, easy buttons, no zooming), engagement would go up.<p>It's not really a problem with QR codes, but rather, an execution problem on people mis-firing on how they're used.

"And smartphone ticketing will get a boost from Apple (AAPL) this fall when the next version of its iPhone operating system is released. The new software includes a feature called Passbook, a digital wallet to store boarding passes, coupons, movie tickets, and gift cards—many of which rely on QR codes."<p>My iOS app, QRganize (launched Dec. 2011) already fulfills this need.

If you need a QR code to go to a web page, then all the info contained in a QR code is useless. Just show the url and let people scan it or key it in.<p>If it is an informational site, then wikipedia should develop and encourage the use of a standard wiki url shortener.<p>If it is a product, companies should also define an easy standard to shorten their products url.

One way to fix this is something I did in the poster for my latest show. Put a box around it (like a fieldset) with the caption that explains where the user is going. In my case it said "Scan to Buy Tickets".

Interesting article, it's a shame it references other sites but doesn't include a hyperlink. Shame!

I’m surprised nobody yet posted the obvious <a href="http://picturesofpeoplescanningqrcodes.tumblr.com" rel="nofollow">http://picturesofpeoplescanningqrcodes.tumblr.com</a>