Does anyone actually do the QR code thing?

[taptic]

We've all seen 'em on ads and stuff, but, just out of curiosity, does anyone actually use them as much more than just a cool thing to scan? I don't, and I've never really seen anyone else do it...

 

[infinitejest]

Two years later, I was wondering the exact same thing. Too bad no one has answered yet.
I never scanned any of that stuff and I don't know anyone who does.

So where are all these QR code people?

 

[millerj123]

It's the new version of "AOL Keyword..."

 

[AlliFlowers]

I use them all the time. Much easier to scan a QR code and have an instruction manual on my phone or iPad, than messing with paper. I also use them to get further information on a product. I appreciate companies who offer them.

Of course, we use them in schools as often as possible since every child of school age has a cell phone glued to his/her hands. If they can scan something and have information on the phone, they can't say they didn't get it.

 

[willmtaylor]

Walmart pay does! lol

 

[mrex]

Last time i used it as a mobile boarding pass.

 

[Feasceaft]

Boarding passes, occasionally.
Activating WhatsApp on desktops involves QR codes.

Apart from that - not at all.

 

[smirking]

We've all seen 'em on ads and stuff, but, just out of curiosity, does anyone actually use them as much more than just a cool thing to scan? I don't, and I've never really seen anyone else do it...

I think I've scanned a few, but I can count only once when I scanned a QR Code because I was really motivated to do so. All of the others were ones in which I just wanted to figure out how the stupid QR scan worked. They were random lookups done for research. I find them frustrating. I never remember what I'm supposed to use to scan it and numerous times I saw something I was interested in and when I saw that the only way I could access more info was by QR code, I put it on the backburner and never got around to it.

I'm glad the QR code fad is over. They'll be around. They ARE useful, but only for specific applications. It's not a replacement for more tried and true ways of leaving a calling card like a website address. It was truly frustrating when QR Code mania hit its peak and organizations were sometimes giving room for a QR code instead of a website address.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Polarr is using them as the way you share/install filters in their apps. Snapchat is also using a variation of it for adding people to your friends list.

I've scanned a few Polarr filters in, made a few in the past, and scanned people's avatars out of curiosity, but that's about it.

 

[smirking]

Polarr is using them as the way you share/install filters in their apps. Snapchat is also using a variation of it for adding people to your friends list.

I also did use it to scan a snapchat contact in once as well. That was one of the few times I used the QR code and it was also the only time I (barely) used Snapchat. It was also very frustrating, but if I did it all the time it wouldn't have been a big deal and therein lies the problem for trying to use the QR code on a widespread basis. Even when you know how it works, there is no universal understanding of what data the codes plug into. It could be any of the following: a website address, a Snapchat contact, a product, a Polarr filter, an app code, and so forth.

They're superior to bar codes because they're more compact, but ironically because they're so versatile, it's hard to know exactly what it's for and so that results in frustration. Bar codes can be used for a lot more than just retail products, but they're so tightly associated with products that we know what's likely to happen when we scan a barcode. You get a price or you get additional product info.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Never used it.

 

[maflynn]

Not really, I think the were a solution in search of a problem and while they were popular in a fad-ish sort of way it seems the bloom is off the rose and they're not really being used that much

 

[danny_w]

I see several people every day paying for food at the company cafeteria (I don't remember the payment name). They also have codes on all their of the menu items so that you can get information but I've never seen anyone scan them.

EDIT: I don't know why they pay this way myself, it always takes longer than just using a credit card or cash. I guess they want to be seen as "hip", to me they just look like a dork holding up the line.

 

[willmtaylor]

Some organizations and professors at my university will post campus announcements or course announcements on bulletin boards. They'll put QR codes on them, so students and snap a quick pic to get more info about the event or course.

 

[Spink10]

What is a good use for the QR code? Are there any? #14 seems to be a good use of the QR code. We use it on printed material to direct to videos.