What could she be so eager to pass out at this time of the morning? Maybe a Dunkin' Donuts gift card? Some airline miles? None of the above. Instead, it was an invitation to take a short survey about the ROC airport experience, accessed via a QR code with your smart phone.
After seeing QR codes pop up overnight on all sorts of items, here was a well-thought-out application. At a time when the sun hadn't even crested the horizon, the last thing I want to do is punch a URL into my phone, or -- God help me -- speak to someone in person to provide insights on business travel. This was a better, and dare I say reasonable, request -- scan the bar code, answer a few mobile-optimized questions, and I was done.
My faith in QR codes restored, I boarded the plane. With the cabin door closing, I turned off my iPad, my Droid and other various devices, then grabbed a copy of the inflight magazine. I flipped a few pages before finding it...
There before me sat a beautifully designed, full page advertisement for something (I honestly can't remember the product). The copy then invited me to -- you guessed it -- scan a QR code for more information.
So let's think this through... chances are I'm reading this at 30,000 feet, on an airline that has no WiFi capability on its entire fleet of aircraft, and I'm not likely to take the magazine with me when I deplane. What in the hell was QR code doing on that ad, except frustrating the tech novice three rows behind me who kept scanning it only to receive a "page not found" message in her phone browser?
QR codes have their place, right alongside some of the other wah-wah pedals of our profession. Used creatively, they can turn interest into action. But placed in the hands of a team who only sees them as a cool accessory without understanding how they function, they too often miss the mark.
We want to hear from you. What are the best and worst uses of QR codes you've stumbled across over the past few weeks?
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