The document discusses QR codes, including what they are, how they work, examples of their use in libraries, and tools for creating them. QR codes can store various types of data and link to websites or other digital content when scanned by a smartphone. The document provides information on different types of matrix codes as well as guidelines for using QR codes and addressing potential issues.
2. Overview
Matrix Codes
Types of Matrix Codes
Why QR Codes
QR Codes - Characteristics and Structure
Examples of Use in Libraries
Various QR Code Readers
Where to make your own
Concerns/Issues
3. Matrix Codes
A matrix code, also termed a 2D
barcode or simply a 2D code, is a two-
dimensional way to represent information.
It is similar to a linear (1-dimensional)
barcode, but can represent more data per
unit area. (Source: Wikipedia)
10. QR Codes – Data Sets
QR Codes are capable of handling numerous
types of data:
numeric and alphabetic characters
other character sets - Cyrillic , Kanji, etc.
symbols
Binary
control codes
11. QR Codes - Storage
Efficient – one tenth the size required for
traditional bar code.
QR Code Data Capacity
Numeric only Max. 7,089 characters
Alphanumeric Max. 4,296 characters
Binary (8 bits) Max. 2,953 bytes
Kanji, full-width Kana Max. 1,817 characters
12. QR Codes - 360º
Readable from any direction.
13. QR Codes – Error Correction
Data can be restored even if the symbol is
partially dirty or damaged.
Different levels of error correction are
available:
Level L - 7%
Level M - 15%
Level Q - 25%
Level H - 30%
14. QR Codes - Linkable
Structured Append Feature
15. QR Codes - License
The use of QR codes is free of any license.
The QR code is clearly defined and published
as an ISO standard.
Denso Wave owns the patent rights on QR
codes, but has chosen not to exercise them.
18. Where Will You See a QR Code
Everywhere! Subways & Shopping –
Billboards see Tesco QR Code
video
Business cards
Airline boarding passes
Print ads
Contests
Packaging and labeling
Self guided tours
Restaurants /
museums / tourist … and in Libraries!
attractions
http://2d-code.co.uk
19. Uses & Examples
Advertise Databases
Preferably with mobile versions
20. Uses & Examples
Advertise Apps
Take the user
directly to the
iTunes store for
BookMyne or
Overdrive Media
Console Mobile
21. Uses & Examples
Advertise Events
Map to event
Facebook Event or
website details
Add event to a
scanner’s calendar
22. Uses & Examples
On Business
Cards
Links to our mobile
website
Create a vCard or
meCard to add
contact info
directly to a mobile
device
24. Uses & Examples
In Buses
In Contra Costa
Library System,
billboards with QR
Code that links to a
mobile site for their
Overdrive site
http://goo.gl/W98RV
25. Uses & Examples
Library Tours
Each scan
reveals
information
about that
area of the
library
Design to work
on a mobile
site or in a
youtube video Syracuse
University
26. Uses & Examples
In Library
Catalogues
Scan & bring
up an item’s
location = no
scrap paper!
–
Ryerson University Library &
Archives
27. Uses & Examples
On bookmarks linking to staff book reviews
On book covers to “read alike” lists
In Books with the Phone Number / website
embedded for renewals
Link to your RSS feed for easy subscription
SMS/Email for text-a-librarian or email a librarian
services
Check availability of study rooms
Wifi login link or instructions
Create predefined searches at a book display
Within a press release to take readers to a specific
page or download on your website
28. FREE QR Code Generators
Kaywa
QR Stuff
goo.gl
GOQR.me
Beqrous
ZXing
http://www.stratford.library.on.ca/mobile/main.html
29. QR Code Grader
Scan-ability
Uses URL Shortner
Lists “How To” Instructions
URL or SMS for “Unsmart
Phones”
Content fit for a mobile screen
Compelling content
Clear Call to Action
Opt-In To Collect Customer data
Social Sharing on the Landing QR Code for Louis Vuitton by SET
page
Bonus: Visually Enhanced
Source: http://m-bossed.com
30. Free Apps to Use
iPhone Blackberry Android
RedLaser QR Code QR Droid
Scan Scanner QuickMar
i-nigma
Pro k
Code QR
Muncher Barcode
Scanner
More phones & readers -
http://goo.gl/osNvQ
31. Concerns/Issues
Requires a smart phone
Work for often little payback
Keeping Track of Stats
Use a site like www.youscan.me to generate QR Codes &
maintain stats
Use Google Analytics campaigns - http://goo.gl/klN1k
Is it a fad?
According to a recent infographic, QR Code scans have
increased by 4549% between Q1 2010 and Q1 2011
68% iPhone, 26% Andorid and 4% Blackberry queaar.com
Viruses
Infected Codes are an issue if you download risky software
from the landing page - http://2d-code.co.uk/qr-code-virus
32. Contact Information
David Harvie Krista Robinson
Stratford Public Library Stratford Public Library
dharvie@pcin.on.ca Krobinson@pcin.on.ca
Hinweis der Redaktion
Data Matrix and Aztec Code have significantly lower capacity (4096 alphanumeric characters for QR Code, 3067 for Aztec Code and 2335 for Data Matrix), so if you would like to encode a lot of text, select QR Code.
Aztec Code may not support UTF-8 characters for the time being, so if you encounter such a problem try QR Code or Data Matrix. Another caveat of Aztec Code is that, it is not supported by most of the scanner programs out there. As for Kanji and Cyrillic characters, only QR Code should support them.
Micro QR Code cannot hold more than 35 numeric and 21 uppercase alphanumeric characters, and it can hold even less characters when you use lowercase characters.
High Capacity Colour Barcode (HCCB) is the name coined by Microsoft for its technology of encoding data in a 2D "barcode" using clusters of colored triangles instead of the square pixels traditionally associated with 2D barcodes.[1] Data density is increased by using a palette of 4 or 8 colors for the triangles, although HCCB also permits the use of black and white when necessary. It has been licensed by the ISAN International Agency for use in its International Standard Audiovisual Number standard,[2] and serves as the basis for the Microsoft Tag mobile tagging application.
Created by Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process,[2] the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. It was designed to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.[3]
Data Matrix and Aztec Code have significantly lower capacity (4096 alphanumeric characters for QR Code, 3067 for Aztec Code and 2335 for Data Matrix), so if you would like to encode a lot of text, select QR Code.Micro QR Code cannot hold more than 35 numeric and 21 uppercase alphanumeric characters, and it can hold even less characters when you use lowercase charactersAztec Code may not support UTF-8 characters for the time being, so if you encounter such a problem try QR Code or Data Matrix. Another caveat of Aztec Code is that, it is not supported by most of the scanner programs out there. As for Kanji and Cyrillic characters, only QR Code should support them.
Since QR Code carries information both horizontally and vertically, QR Code is capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one-tenth the space of a traditional bar code.
QR Code is capable of 360 degree (omni-directional), high speed reading. QR Code accomplishes this task through position detection patterns located at the three corners of the symbol. These position detection patterns guarantee stable high-speed reading, circumventing the negative effects of background interference.
QR Code can be divided into multiple data areas. Conversely, information stored in multiple QR Code symbols can be reconstructed as single data symbols.One data symbol can be divided into up to 16 symbols, allowing printing in a narrow area.
EncodingThe diagram below illustrates the placement of the message characters within a QR code. Starting from the lower-right corner, the first four bits define the encoding used (in this case, 8 bits per character). Next is the length of the message (17; dark stands for 1, but the masking process used in this symbol inverts alternate rows). Following that is the message itself, then the end-of-message marker, and finally the error-correcting codes.