This seems like it would be an actual good use of a QR code, if it was specifically labeled as "Scan this to see how to install this product."

On the other hand, I just got a bill from my exterminator service. And lo and behold right there next to their address block on the invoice was their URL and an unlabeled QR code. Why in the heck would I ever bother scanning that? Having it there just screams "the owner's kid nephew said that QR codes are all the rage so we had better get one on our invoice."

I would bet that it took you to their website. Most unlabeled QR codes are just there to save you from typing.

Yes, I really hate QR codes that have no labels at all, how am I supposed to know if I want to actually read the content at the other end?

If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but none of them do, so you have to provide printed material or a url anyways so there is no real reason to use them now.

  > If every Android, Blackberry, and iPhone came with a
  > universal QR code reader it MIGHT be worth it, but
  > none of them do, ...

My phone has a built-in QR reader, and it's one of the ones you've mentioned, so that statement is wrong.

  > ... you have to provide printed material or a url
  > anyways so there is no real reason to use them now.

Except that for those who do have a reader, you've reduced the friction for them. And it sounds like you're saying we shouldn't use new technologies just because some people don't have them yet. That's in interesting idea - it means web developers shouldn't use HTML5, or canvas, for example. Perhaps this is a good idea. Not everyone has Flash capable browsers, so we could finally kill that.

Oh, and never write something for the iPhone, because not everyone has one of those, either.

But if it comes down to typing a long ass url in my phone, or pushing a button to scan a code, guess which one I'll pick. Don't impede technological progress just because "not everybody has it"

Here's how the future will be:

Long home button press.

<beep>

"Siri (or Android version, or WP12 version) , search for <whatever the thing is>"

<beep>

<Here are your search results>

But if I'm scanning a QR code in a store next to some product or on a poster about an event, I don't want to know what Siri knows about it, or to read some non-specific page online about it. I want to know what the store or poster wants me to know.

Then consider me loathing the future in advance.

To me, people talking out loud to their phones in public is akin to bluetooth headsets.

The technology might provide an easier way to let you do something, but you look like an idiot.

If the price I have to pay is that people like you think I'm an idiot, I'm sure I'll manage.

I am curious though, how do you distinguish between people "talking out loud to their phones", and people talking out loud to other people using their phones (ie making a phone call).

There are a lot of situations where people talking on the phone to other people is annoying and rude. I expect there's substantial overlap with the situations where people talking out loud to Siri is annoying and rude.

And for the most part those situations are not ones where the presence of QR codes would be of significant benefit.

Note that I think QR codes are great for things like airline tickets or baggage tracking tags.

How is using a qr code to get a direct link to what you need even comparable to doing a search on that object and hoping you get relevant information?

Definitely. The first and only time I tried to scan a QR code I took a picture of it on my iPhone, realized a few seconds later that I had to install an app for it, then walked away shocked that anyone actually uses them.

That would be the ideal interface.

1) Open camera from lock screen 2) Take photo 3) If QR code is detected, offer to open it. 4) Later when browsing photos, remember it's a QR code, offer the link again, so that we can come back to it later. 5) If no QR code is detected, treat it as a normal photo.