That’s exactly what I’m saying. Going from say a desktop to a mobile device. Not sure how that got misinterpreted. Why else would I want to use a QR code?
Sure you ‘downloading’ the url, but really, to me DLing would be downloading data so that you can use it without an internet/data connection IMHO. This is not uncommon for GIS data. Especially if the user is in a remote location and does not have a connection. (though that won’t be the case here)
I think we have thought parity on the main issue, but I wanted to break this out as going back to the beginning of the thread.
QR codes are *not *just for (1) URLs and (2) mobile devices. So you might use a QR code for a dozen or more other purposes completely unrelated to what you’re talking about. It was not completely clear whether you had a good idea I/we were misunderstanding, or had a flawed concept based on that narrow view of the tech.
QR codes are very useful in a variety of ways, and while their fad-day has passed I hope the tech for creation and reading remains around.
Late datum: I was just fitted with one of those stylish cyborg-y leg braces to keep my knee surgery from blowing apart. Right up at the top is a little QR code that links to the video and literature library for wearer/patients. That’s a nearly ideal use of the tech, IMVHO.
Oddity #1: So I was sitting on the couch when I discovered this and thought, “Wow, I need to go get my phone and read the code.” It actually took me a while to remember that I was holding an Android tablet with, yes, QR Droid installed. I used my phone as a phablet so long I am still not used to the actual tablet thingy.
Oddity #2: I had an unbelievable time searching up this thread. I thought at first it was a quirk of the tablet (see #1) and some kind of interaction between the web site, the Arrow launcher and the SwiftKey keyboard - I’ve had trouble getting all the pieces to play together well. But nope, I come down here and search again, patiently waiting out a couple of board-search cycles, and got only the same server error message or a blank screen. A Google search finally put me here. I have no idea why this thread has been buried by the database/search function, but there you go.
BTW, QR Droid did exactly what it was supposed to do: read the code and asked me (once/always) if I wanted to see the URL or be taken right to it. So there’s that.
Perhaps since “QR” is shorter than 4 letters and hence doesn’t go into the SDMB search index at all. If you filter that word out of the text of this thread there’s not much else distinctive about it. The rest is generic prose found in thousands of threads.
No, I caught that it was filtering that on the second pass. It seems like “read codes” limited to the last three months should bring up this thread, but no, it leads to a weird server error or a blank screen.
IMO the server errors are simply the search function crashing. Which has nothing to do with the specifics of your query and everything to do with transient workload, how long since last reboot, the recent hampster feeding schedule, etc.
I’ll have nothing but perfect performance from SDMB search for days and then nothing but 500 server errors for hours at a stretch.
Quite frustrating as you say. Yes Google searches text too. But not as well for some specific vBulletin properties.
I have a friend who is a graphic designer, mostly for print. I mentioned QR codes to her once and the look of disgust she gave me was purely reflexive.
Because after all, in the battle between usefulness and prettiness, prettiness is the only thing that counts.
As I said way upthread I’m not much of a QR code user. But they certainly do have actually worthwhile use cases. Agree completely with your GF that, despite being useful, they aren’t aesthetically pleasing.
I’m not sure what you’re describing, but it’s the literal opposite of graphic design. Graphic design is about the marriage of usefulness and prettiness.
No. Esthetic wrassling aside, I suspect the disgust was for what’s already been covered - that QR codes became a huge fad, with mis-use driven by sheeplike designers and misinformed clients. Around the fifth time you have a client demand the use of something a webinar told them was Essential and Edgy and a secret power tool, you want to strangle someone. Like the person who just asked you about QR codes.
Maybe. But just since reading this I’ve done two successful searches and then had “read codes” crash to a white screen again.
Sounds like I utterly misunderstood you. My apologies to you and your GF.