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?

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

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 error- correcting 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,

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)

Using QR Codes in Education The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games deployed over 50 QR Codes on game-related signage, physical publications, e- tickets, 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

Using QR Codes in Education Where NOT to put your QR code

Using QR Codes in Education 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, 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 list of place to put QR codes and associated use of code

Using QR Codes in Education How to create a QR code How to shorten a URL for a cleaner looking code