QR codes are for suckers – it's time to break them for good

https://linuximpact.com/qr-codes-are-for-suckers-its-time-to-break-them-for-good/

by dddavid • 3 years ago

15 11 3 years ago

geophile• 3 years ago

OCR is pretty much a solved problem. Why not just print the url and have the phone read it? This minimizes the opportunities for havoc, since the url you read is the same as the url that your phone goes to. (Yes, I do recognize the opportunities for being tricky with characters that look like other characters.)

You could have a special symbol, indicating the presence of a url, special typeface etc., to make everything work even better.

stephenr• 3 years ago

QR codes provide the ability to have a relatively long URL (much longer than can be represented by the equivalent text and still being readable in the same area/space) and offers built in error correction.

The problem isn't URLs, it's misuse of QR codes where just showing a URL would be no more useful.

0x073• 3 years ago

Does anyone without a technical background really read the url or even the domain?

My feeling is no from my family and my friends view.

So a url will still something like a cryptic qr code.

keep_reading• 3 years ago

You're just acknowledging that this solves nothing but you still seem to want to pursue it anyway

advisedwang• 3 years ago

A short URL is no better. Long URLs are ugly and have poor usability.

bombi• 3 years ago

I mostly again with the author, except on the NFT point. QR codes are meant for screens, not printed material. They can be set to refresh every 15 seconds. So anywhere there's a QR code there should be a screen

Meph504• 3 years ago

QR codes aren't just for URLs, there is a large array of common formats, but really it is up to the device reading it, and how it processes it.

To me, QR codes are fine, and actually have a lot of good uses, what is the problem is camera software parsing them.

I use a program called binary eye on android, it decodes the whole QR code and displays its value before attempting to do anything. I was this was the standard action.

extraduder_ire• 3 years ago

Neat, another barcode app to add to my regular phone.

Most of what I use QR codes for is copying text to my phone from a computer, especially wifi networks, since there's already a QR format for that.

rokasbazanovas• 3 years ago

Many businesses use QR codes like restaurants that allow you to order through a website (long urls that change), what are some alternatives they can use is easy for the daily customer as well as safe?

mikecoles• 3 years ago

A paper menu.

marssaxman• 3 years ago

So much easier than faffing about with a phone...

QR codes are for suckers – it's time to break them for good

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