Transcript Using QR Codes in Education Joyce Joines Newman MFA Office for Faculty Excellence.

Using QR Codes in
Education
Joyce Joines Newman MFA
Office for Faculty Excellence
Using QR Codes in Education
• What is a QR code?
• a "quick response" code,
like a barcode but more
complex = a "matrix" barcode
• a digital graphic = color pixels
arranged in a square on a
white background
• fast readability and large storage capacity
compared to standard barcodes
Using QR Codes in Education
• invented in 1994 in Japan by the Toyota subsidiary
Denso Wave to track vehicles during the
manufacturing process
• Denso Wave owns patent rights but has chosen
not to exercise them; it also owns the phrase
"QR Code" as a registered trademark
Using QR Codes in Education
• How does a QR Code work?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEuX23iy2A4
Using QR Codes in Education
• Uses an object in the physical world to access the
virtual world (called "hardlinking" or "object linking")
• Must download a free QR Code reader (decoding
software); can be used on Smart Phones, iPads,
iPod Touch
• A camera phone or device equipped with the
correct reader can scan the image of the QR Code
to display text, add contact information, connect
to a wireless network, open a web page (mobile
tagging"), or determine a geo location
Using QR Codes in Education
• Example:
the local zoo
• You could walk up
to an exhibit, scan
the code, and get
more information
about the animal,
or even access
audio or video
• Can contain up to 4000 characters of
any alphanumeric text
Using QR Codes in Education
• Introduction to QR Codes
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMKLwFEiwOc
Using QR Codes in Education
• QR Code has been defined and published as an
ISO standard (ISO = International Organization for
Standardization)
• A standard is a document that provides
requirements, specifications, guidelines or
characteristics that can be used consistently to
ensure that materials, products, processes and
services are fit for their purpose
Using QR Codes in Education
• QR Code Structure – Specifications
Using QR Codes in Education
• QR Code Structure
Using QR Codes in Education
• The QR reader locates the three distinctive corner
squares; normalizes the image size, orientation,
and angle of viewing, with the aid of a smaller
square in the fourth corner
• It then converts the small dots into binary
numbers and checks validity with an errorcorrecting code
• There are four error correction levels; the higher
the level, the less storage capacity
Using QR Codes in Education
• Popular QR
code reader
apps include
NeoReader for
iPhone and
Barcode Scanner
from Zxing (Zebra
Crossing) for
Android;
• Do a Google search for your phone and "qr
reader"
Using QR Codes in Education
• Growth of Mobile Barcode Scanning (over 700%)
(from ScanLife Mobile Barcode Trend Report, September 2010,
www.scanlife.com)
Using QR Codes in Education
• Type of 2D Code Being Scanned
(most commonly used links to a URL)
Using QR Codes in Education
• Top 10 Countries Scanning
(over 45 countries have scanned from every continent)
Using QR Codes in Education
• Top 10 US States Scanning
(function of relative population size, but some states are over-indexing)
Using QR Codes in Education
• User Demographics
(widely relevant across age and income groups; half of users are 35-54)
Using QR Codes in Education
• QR Code Usage by European Smartphone Owners
Doubled July 2011-July 2012
(for product information, event information, charity/cause information,
coupon or offer, application download)
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2012/9/QR_Code_Usage_Among_European_Smartphone_Owners_Doubles_Over_Past_Year
Using QR Codes in Education
• The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games
deployed over 50 QR Codes on game-related signage, physical publications, etickets, etc.; 15 million Olympic app downloads and a social network of over 5
million from around the globe; how people were engaging with their mobile
content in real time.
(heat map showing where
traffic developed around the
Olympic Stadium)
Using QR Codes in Education
• Capture your audience’s attention with a creative use of
codes that will surprise and draw in
http://mashable.com/2011/04/26/qr-code-resume/
Using QR Codes in Education
• Where NOT to put your QR code
http://mashable.com/2012/03/04/funniest-qr-code-fail/#518371-Flying-QR-Codes
Using QR Codes in Education
• QR Code Orienteering
http://thepegeek.com/2009/03/05/qr-code-orienteering/
Using QR Codes in Education
• Dos
Use on postcards, business cards, window decals, brochures
Tell users upfront what's in it for them (scan this for . . . )
Use to unlock information, not a destination
Use only one QR code at a time
Know your audience and its technical skill
Keep it simple
Consider placement (lighting, distance from viewer)
• Don'ts
Do not put a QR code on a billboard or inaccessible place
Don't put on surface with a grid, floppy surfaces, shiny paper,
moving bus, cloth, a website
Don't link to a non-mobile friendly website
Don't link to a website that asks for lots of information to be typed in
Don't use multiple codes ("scan for X" should be for one thing)
Don't link to social media pages (Facebook, Twitter) unless meaningful
Don't assume viewer knows what a QR code is or how to scan it
Use a QR code only to link to something of value to the user
Using QR Codes in Education
• Risks of QR Codes
"attack tagging" or "attagging": Malicious QR codes
combined with a permissive code reader can allow
introduction of malicious software or connect to
undesirable websites
* malicious QR codes can be placed over legitimate
codes; reader's permissions can allow use of camera,
full Internet access, read/write to contact data, GPS,
read/write local storage, global system changes;
* links to dangerous websites with browser exploits
can enable microphone/camera/GPS and stream
them to remote servers, analysis of sensitive data
such as passwords, files, contacts, transactions,
email or other messages, corrupting privacy settings,
stealing identity, or introducing malicious scripts or viruses
These actions could occur in the background, unseen
Using QR Codes in Education
• Resources
http://socialme.wikispaces.com/QR
list of place to put QR codes and associated use of code
Using QR Codes in Education
• How to create a QR code
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
• How to shorten a URL for a cleaner looking code
http://goo.gl/