Changing the URL In a QR-Code
Let’s say you work in a museum and you are looking to place a QR-Code next to every artifact that allows users to scan and learn more about that artifact. This could be achieved by creating a QR-Code containing a URL which takes the user to a mobile friendly version of the musuem/artifacts website.
Question
But, what if you need to change the URL contained within the QR-Code? How could this be achieved without changing the QR-Code itself?
Redirects
Well, you could consider making use of a redirect (commonly known as a URL forwarder).
First, create a vanity URL such as:
http://www.example.com/artifact-a/
Then have your web developement team have it redirected too:
http://www.example.com/indian-heritage/
Using our nifty QR-Code generator, create a QR-Code with the URL/redirect that you created and plan to manage e.g. http://www.example.com/artifact-a/
You could then place the QR-Code containting the redirect wherever you like. If your desired destination of the webpage or URL changes, you can then alter the redirect to reference the new webpages location; we have not changed the URL in the QR-Code, just the destination it redirects too thus solving our conundrum.
Tags: qr-codes
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The Guardian’s Victor Keegan on QR-Codes
Victor Keegan from The Guardian has recently posted an interesting article about his experience with QR-Codes. From his article, he goes on to talk about how he used a QR-Code reader to scan the barcode of products in his local Sainsbury’s.
He highlights ShopSavvy, an Android based application that allows you to scan and compare products using their barcode. Remember CompareEverywhere (AndroidScan)? Both winners of Google’s Android challenge.
Quote: “One of the reasons barcodes haven’t taken off in the UK is that, whereas in Japan the dominant operator in effect imposed a standard, here different companies are peddling their own in the forlorn hope of sweeping all competitors aside.” Source: Victor Keegan
Personally, I could not agree more; if there was one major mobile phone manufacturer using one barcode standard then Europe may well have adopted to QR-Codes by now. Could Nokia achieve this? They do have around a 60% market share in Europe. Where does that leave the US?
Personally, local supermarkets is not where I see the benefit of QR-Codes or barcode scanning. I see barcode scanning becoming very useful if you plan to make a big investment in say… an LCD television; you could walk into a large retailer, size up the item, check out its spec then scan and compare for a cheaper price elsewhere. Most people say buying on the internet is slightly cheaper. Barcode scanning software could well cement this fact.
Tags: In The Press, qr-codes, readers, shop savvy
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QRBall - The ‘Alternative’ Paintball Experience
Twitter is a great source for QR-Code innovations and news. Recently while doing some research, I came across Twitter member stoop_uk and his idea to combine QR-Codes with paintballing; QRBall.
The Idea
- You get a number of users with a QR-Code reader on their mobile phone.
- A area of warzone is set out.
- All users wear a T-Shirt with a QR-Code printed on it.
- You then have to go around capturing everyone’s QR-Code with your mobile phone.
- If shot, the QR-Code decodes on the users device and sends a text message to the person you shot advising them they are out the game.
Genius if you ask me. Simply another great innovative idea for using QR-Codes. I wonder if anyone has anything like this going in Asia?
Got an Idea?
Why don’t you match stoop_uk and send us in your own innovative idea to use QR-Codes.
Tags: innovation, paintball, qr-codes, readers
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Temple-News.com Adopt QR-Codes
When checking the Mobile Barcodes website referalls in Google Analytics, a particular referall caught my eye in the form of an online newspaper from Philadelphia, United States called Temple News.
Tempe News are clearly innovative and interested in bridging the gap between traditional and online and they, and of course we beleive the best way to plug this gap is via QR-Codes.
Well done to Temple News for the spotting the potential of QR-Codes and promoting their use within their newspapers website.
Personally, I thought QR-Codes would first become mainstream in the English speaking world (Asia are already all over mobile barcode technology) via newspapers. I think Google spotted this early when they developed their traditional advertising platform called Google Print Ads. Unfortunitely, Google has become subject to the economic climate like any other company and recently axed this marketing innitative.
QR-Code Video
Guess what, Temple News even went the extra mile and created an impressive video outlining how to make use of QR-Code technology and posted it on YouTube. Watch closely folks and you will be able to see the mention of Mobile Barcodes in the video as a useful resource for finding a QR-Code reader. Thanks for the mention Temple News and I hope QR-Codes work well for your newspaper.
Tags: mobile barcodes, newspaper, qr-codes
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Optiscan QR-Code Reader by Airsource Ltd
Airsource LTD based in Cambridge, England are a mobile software development company that have developed their very own QR-Code reader called Optiscan.
Optiscan is based on Google’s ZXing, an open source QR-Code reader. Optiscan have tweaked the functionality of Google’s ZXing to remove the need for selecting when to scan the QR-Code. Apparently, Airsource LTD have also made alterations to the image processing library which should make the capturing of the QR-Code more accurate.
The Optiscan QR-Code Reader is now available from the Apple iTunes app store at $4.99, £2.99, or €3.99. If you are willing to pay money for a QR-Code reader, Optiscan is for you, otherwise, Mobile-Barcodes suggest you try a free alterntive QR-Code reader.
Expect to see a wide variety of new QR-Codes developed based on Google’s open source ZXing project. It is a great open source application that can easily be tailored to your needs.
Tags: qr code, qr-codes, readers, software
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