At the right hand side, there is an instruction on how to use the QR Code, and it specially mentioned a QR Code scanner - Scanlife. Why London Drugs put "download Scanlife from the app store" as the first step of the instruction? Maybe they assumed that customers are new to this way of internet searching and tried to provide convenience? Maybe this app has high reputation? With these questions, I searched Scanlife in iTunes store, I found this app actually does not have a high rating. From user comments, many of the users downloaded this app because they saw London Drugs flyer! However, this app is not functioning very well.
I'm very interested in the QR Codes usage in Canada. However, QR Codes is not wide-spread in Canada. As said by Erica Glasier, QRe8.com, "There are no barriers in Canada from a technology point of view. Only from a user experience point of view."
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I also did some research on the usage of QR Codes in other countries.
Japan
QR Codes was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994. In the origin of QR Codes, Japanese marketers use QR Codes everywhere: food packaging, store advertisement, magazines, T-shirt tags, even on tombstones!Below is the personal experience of blogger Cliffano Subagio. He took a video of how Japanese people looking at a Disney ad with QR Codes.
This is his blog entry about QR Codes in Japan.
http://blog.cliffano.com/2009/05/18/qr-code-usage-in-japan/
As early as in 2006, Japanese mobile phone has integrated digital wallet, QR Code scanner, and TV together. Japanese customers can pay bills and transit, search the internet, or watch TV on the go.
Taiwan
It's Valentine's time, Chunghwa Post of Taiwan released new heart shaped stamps with QR Codes in the middle. These QR codes include secret messages "I Love You!" and "Happy Valentine's Day!". (I tried to scan them with iPhone app Bakodo, and the message did show up!)
The purpose of these stamps is to increase the usage of mail letters. They hope people can write each other letters with the special stamps on.
Hongkong
Zoo Records
Korea
Hyundai Avante
Russia
QR Code Adventure in Moscow
I haven't seen too many QR codes myself, but recently more and more have been appearing. I have tried using them once or twice and for me, my phone did not read the code. It was pretty much just a waste of time. I have an older blackberry and pictures do not always appear very clear so that could be the reason. However,I have friends with Iphones and they,ve had the same problem. This had me wonder if maybe there is still some glitches with the QR codes? I find the idea of them could be very useful but if there working the way they are now its just a waste of peoples times. Then again, this is just my opinion and other people may have had good experiences with QR codes. But I don't think I'll bother trying them again. Not until I get a newer phone lol
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, I'm using Iphone 4 and I currently have no problem scanning any QR Codes with the app called Bakodo. It's very fast too. I don't think there's any glitches with the QR Codes. The reason why it does not work might due to the different versions of QR Code symbols require different minimum resolution of scanners. Here's more readings on QR codes: http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/aboutqr-e.html
ReplyDeleteI think QR codes will be used widely in Canada soon. because it provides a very convenient way for marketers and users.
I-nigma4 is the program i use on my iphone 4 and it works great, never had a problem reading and its free too from the app store. i was able to read the walentines day ones off my computer screen using my phone.
ReplyDeleteI thought QR codes were new technology, i didnt relize they already have used them on tombstones - thats nuts!
Thank for finding all those creative uses of QR-codes globally. I'm still searching for a reliable, cheap (or free) QR Code app for my Blackberry--anyone?
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting Mashable article about QR codes, and the great thing is, you can actually scan the QR codes while you're reading to get more information (that's interactivity!). http://mashable.com/2011/03/04/qr-codes-infographic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+(Mashable)
Good to see the world slowly awaken to the possibilities of QR Codes!
ReplyDeleteEven in Japan, they are only at the tip of what the QR Code is capable of and we will definitely see some amazing developments in this area in the not too distant future.