Technology has come a long way and QR Codes are part of that
advanced technology. QR codes are in some respects, the modern day version of
obtaining the secret message that Ralphy tried to decode with his Little Orphan
Annie Secret Decoder Ring in movie, The Christmas Story. But one does not need
to turn and decode each letter to receive the secret message using QR codes.
One only need to scan the QR code and the “message” or information linked to
the code will be delivered to the user via the QR codes’ Reader software and at
a much swifter pace. QR Readers are the needed software to decode QR codes.
They can be downloaded to a smart phone that will enables the user to scan the QR
code and have it “decoded” and connected to the website or information that is
linked to the code.
I think I first became aware of the two-dimensional bar
codes about a year ago in magazines. By now more people have probably spotted
QR codes and they are popping up more and more. Since working on this Module, I
have developed a much greater QR code awareness. I saw a QR code downtown the
other day, but to my surprise instead of the usual black and white pixels the
QR Code was Red and White! Does that still work?
Vendors often place QR Codes into magazines ads to enable consumers
to connect with the product or the company’s website, a clever use of marketing
strategies with the intent to illicit a sale. As I did not have a smart phone,
I never was able to see if QR codes worked.
Saving time is a benefit of using a QR code as it can eliminate
the need to type in a websites URL perhaps, not a lot of time, but time none
the less. Unfortunately, not everyone has
a smart phone or is aware that QR codes exist and if they have seen them
displayed, they may not know what they represent or how to use them.
According to an article in the Educause Learning Initiative,
QR codes are quite popular in Japan and are being used for commercial tracking,
logistics and inventory control; but gaining popularity in other countries such
as England, the United States and Canada. Educause stated that in England, a
grant-funded venture led by Andy Ramsden at Bath University proposed placing QR
Codes into library books for book renewal. Good idea. Some other ideas included
posting QR Codes next to displays in museums next to displays that would give
patrons or visitors additional information about display with the expense of having
to hire a docent.
It is also noteworthy to mention that QR codes are FREE to
produce. After one has a URL they want to create a QR code for, it is not terribly
difficult to create the QR code. I created my code using Bitly.com. It is important to mention that not all QR
codes work with all QR code readers (TechTrend, 2012).
One library currently using QR codes is The Florida State
University Law Library. They are utilizing QR codes for contact information for
reference librarians in the stacks to assist library users trying to locate
electronic format of a print resource (Law Library Journal, 2011).
Social Bookmarking:
Delicious and Diigo are both social bookmarking tools available on the internet. They both allow for storing, sharing and discovering web bookmarks. Diigo however, differs in that offers other additional features that Delicious does not. Diigo lets one highlight text and pictures by installing the Diigo toolbar. Diigo allows one to add sticky notes in the event you want to add additional information and it allows one to annotate web pages that can be shared with others along with ones notes. Both Delicious and Diigo bookmarks can be accessed at any time from any computer.
Delicious and Diigo are both social bookmarking tools available on the internet. They both allow for storing, sharing and discovering web bookmarks. Diigo however, differs in that offers other additional features that Delicious does not. Diigo lets one highlight text and pictures by installing the Diigo toolbar. Diigo allows one to add sticky notes in the event you want to add additional information and it allows one to annotate web pages that can be shared with others along with ones notes. Both Delicious and Diigo bookmarks can be accessed at any time from any computer.
Pinterest is a basically an electronic bulletin board but
with the added feature that it too like Delicious and Diigo can be accessed
online from any computer at any time. The posts or “pins” that one places on their
bulletin boards can also be shared with others. It is very “alive” because it
lets the user click on the “pin” and obtain additional information, such as
connecting to other websites or listening to audio recordings or watching
videos. Pinterest main selling points are that it is extremely visual and fun
to add pins to. It is possible to add a “Pin” button to one’s toolbar which
allows one to pin at any time to one of the electronic bulletin boards. It is
fun to follow one’s interests or topics by following others boards. Interesting
information found on others boards can be “re-pinned” onto ones own boards.
Using the toolbar “Pin It” icon makes it so easy and fast and fun to engage in
Pinterest.
Here are my posts:
Here are my posts:
Educause Learning Initiative, (2009). “7 Things you should know
about QR codes.” www.educause.edu/eli
Jackson, D. W. (2011). Standard Bar Codes Beware—Smartphone
Users May Prefer QR Codes. Law Library Journal, 103(1), 153-158.
Robertson, C.,
& Green, T. (2012). Scanning the Potential for Using QR Codes in the
Classroom. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning,
56(2), 11-12. doi:10.1007/s11528-012-0558-4
