Free-writing: QR code and Social Media

QR code (Quick Response) code, is a type of matrix barcode that can be read by smart phones or mobile devices (with QR Code reader installed). 

Source: Voir QR: the history, use & abuse of QR code

From: http://www.slideshare.net/tactica_inc/voir-qr-the-history-use-abuse-of-qr-codes

Once you have downloaded and installed a barcode reader on your smartphone, the phone’s camera arts like a scanner, scanning the barcode. These codes are really amazing and powerful, they can direct your phone’s browser directly to a URL, make phone call, simply display text or image ~ all depending on what information has been stored within the QR code. It’s cool and simple. All you need to do is download and install QR reader onto your smartphone. You may find many great, free QR code readers online. Once your reader has been installed, just point, click, and connect.

From: http://www.visionsmarts.com/img/vs-reader-qr.jpg  

QR code and Library services

In Hong Kong, we can commonly find QR code in newspaper, magazines, household products, MTR and giant advertisement board. Most of the academic libraries in Hong Kong also apply QR code to enhance their service. For example, Lingnan University Library, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library, Che-woo Lui Hotel and Tourism Resource Centre, Hong Kong polytechnic University etc. demonstrated QR code can be applied to different areas in the library to enhance the library service.

Source: Lingnan University Library

from: http://www.library.ln.edu.hk/sites/default/files/content/services/qr/qr2.png

The world’s largest QR code

It’s more than interesting to find the world’s largest QR code on internet. Southern Resources and Hackerspace Charlotte put technology on the map. This giant code became visible on Google maps. However, if you wish to scan this giant code you should have wings to fly in the sky to scan the giant code.

Skanz: Largest QR Code Ever!

 

QR code and social media

“Another giant QR code crops up!” attached an interesting video which is showing the “create an interactive video to recast QR codes as Socialprints”.  Socialprint, the social media service gives users a new way to use QR code which allow users to have one step to share their personal contacts to friends by using their smartphones. Those who scan a user’s QR code will get to view his/her“Skanzsite”on their phones and will then be allowed to call, text, or email the user, or to access his/her Facebook page, Twitter feed, and even to see his/her photos, favorite videos, and other personal information. It sounds great, users may not need to present their name card but just scan a your social QR code.

 

Source: QR Code Press

I think the user of social QR code extremely convenience for business marketing rather than sharing of personal  information (email, Facebook page, Blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, photo, and personal profie) to friends. Library may consider to generate a Library Social QR Code to connect users to their social networking tools (if they are managing more than one social networking tools). Personally, I won’t prefer to generate such QR code for myself. It seems that I need to take risk to trade off the benefits of using such convenience technology ~ Social QR code for some of my privacy.