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QR Codes have been around for a while. They are one of several different attempts to improve on barcodes, offering a small image that contains machine readable data.
You may not realise, but your phone could tell you that the one on the right says "www.m-learning.org"
QR Codes are one of several similar systems to start being used with camera-phones, and this is where it gets interesting to us mobile learners. I can embed a URL, and attach the code to a picture in the museum. If I point my phone at it, I can get taken to a mini-website with more information about that picture.
Or for the tech-savvy businessman - why not include your email or phone number in a QR Code. It will save your contacts typing them in.
But the main reason I am blogging QR Codes, is that Nokia has started shipping the reader as standard in their Japanese phones. And that this format is fast becoming mainstreamed there. Consumers are finding links on supermarket shelves, bus shelters and magazine ads.
So - if it is being taken up by industry, why not at school too?
There are (as always) many different ways to do the same things. Semacode is another variant, and hypertag is a more feature-rich and advertising-friendly approach. But for me the big take-up in Japan is a taste of mainstreaming-to-come.
If you are interested in the specifics, wikipedia has a good summary of QR Codes (of course!)
and hypertag have made a great animation, to show what can happen when your phone starts getting real digital data from the world around you!
for more on the Japan usage, see Mike Love's links on SmartMobs
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- Buying A Mobile - Conversation With Salesgirl
Visitor: Excuse me. Salesgirl: Welcome, sir! Visitor: Could you show me a good mobile phone? Salesgirl: Between which range sir? Visitor: Any good camera phone. Salesgirl: Please come to this side. Here are a few latest models of Nokia, LG and Samsung....
- Elt Chat Summary - 30th April
How do you use mobile devices in the classroom? Tips, apps & best practicesIntroduction This was the initial question for the evening's discussion, although there was some debate about the definition of mobile devices. Some people suggested digital...
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QR Codes anyone?
QR Codes have been around for a while. They are one of several different attempts to improve on barcodes, offering a small image that contains machine readable data.
You may not realise, but your phone could tell you that the one on the right says "www.m-learning.org"
QR Codes are one of several similar systems to start being used with camera-phones, and this is where it gets interesting to us mobile learners. I can embed a URL, and attach the code to a picture in the museum. If I point my phone at it, I can get taken to a mini-website with more information about that picture.
Or for the tech-savvy businessman - why not include your email or phone number in a QR Code. It will save your contacts typing them in.
But the main reason I am blogging QR Codes, is that Nokia has started shipping the reader as standard in their Japanese phones. And that this format is fast becoming mainstreamed there. Consumers are finding links on supermarket shelves, bus shelters and magazine ads.
So - if it is being taken up by industry, why not at school too?
There are (as always) many different ways to do the same things. Semacode is another variant, and hypertag is a more feature-rich and advertising-friendly approach. But for me the big take-up in Japan is a taste of mainstreaming-to-come.
If you are interested in the specifics, wikipedia has a good summary of QR Codes (of course!)
and hypertag have made a great animation, to show what can happen when your phone starts getting real digital data from the world around you!
for more on the Japan usage, see Mike Love's links on SmartMobs
- Mobile Market Share 2011 ? Really?
Fascinating overview of mobile operating system market share - but is it real? Those nice folks at icrossing have updated their infographic summarising mobile operating systems all over the world. It is a great visual image. I use it often. BUT BEWARE...
- The Mobile Web Is Alive And Well ... In Africa!
We know the take up of mobile phones in Africa has been way faster than ever expected: 18 months ago, there were already more mobile than fixed-line phonesmany more people have access to a mobile phone than a landline onemobile networks are sidestepping...
- Free Sim Cards?
if, like us, you have a lot of mobile devices hanging around for trialling and testing, you will also be familiar with the pain of SIM swapping. (picture the scene. You have 10 different phones you need to test your new phone game on. Each of the phones...
- Buying A Mobile - Conversation With Salesgirl
Visitor: Excuse me. Salesgirl: Welcome, sir! Visitor: Could you show me a good mobile phone? Salesgirl: Between which range sir? Visitor: Any good camera phone. Salesgirl: Please come to this side. Here are a few latest models of Nokia, LG and Samsung....
- Elt Chat Summary - 30th April
How do you use mobile devices in the classroom? Tips, apps & best practicesIntroduction This was the initial question for the evening's discussion, although there was some debate about the definition of mobile devices. Some people suggested digital...