Last week I posted a video about augmented reality books. This week I have discovered yet another new combination of books and technology: QR codes. You probably have seen QR codes before, but in case you haven’t, they look like this:
QR codes are two-dimensional codes that allow for a speedier decoding of content than a regular barcode and can contain more information that a regular barcode can. For instance, the above QR code contains the URL for the English Wikipedia Mobile homepage. To read the QR codes, you need a cell phone with a camera and a QR code reading ability like an iPhone or a Google android mobile.
What do QR codes have to do with books you ask? Well, imagine that you are reading a book and a QR code is printed on the page that connects you to a map, a video, a website where readers are annotating the book, or to any other number of possibilities. You can already buy books that use this technology:
Kind of interesting, yes?
I found the video and a little more information about the technology from Read Write Web
I never heard of QR codes before. It looks like a fascinating way to link more info into books! (or anything else for that matter)
Definitely interesting! Things like this make me wish I could get a cell phone without the phone part. Or the outrageous data fees. But I suppose at home I could use my netbook for this and get a better experience anyway. I wonder if this capability will show up in a future Kindle?
yes, I’ve with you Sylvia re having the phone without the phone part. Hmm … maybe that’s the iPad!?
Yes. Also terribly distracting. Like a vook. The end of imagining.
Jeane, QR codes are still relatively new. Forward thinking libraries are trying to figure out how they might be used to provide patrons information while in the stacks about books and other things.
Sylvia, Heh, I know. I have only a basic cell phone because I refuse to pay all the fees for texting and internet. It’s a rip off. At home I imagine a web cam could do the same thing. If Kindle were going to add something like this they’d have to figure out how to get colored e-ink and create a better browser oh and add a camera. they’d probably also raise the price and start charing network fees. But the technology is pretty spiffy!
Neat!
Maybe I could use one of those price-check scanners randomly mounted throughout my local grocery store?
Wow, this is really cool. I had never heard of this technology before. It will be interesting to see how this develops and whether or not it becomes pervasive.
Those QR codes starting popping up on our ranges at my library and not owning a cell phone it took me a while to figure them out. Ours give maps to the ranges and I think also connect to the catalog. It is pretty spiffy actually. (Of course at the rate I’m going I’ll never own a cell phone, let alone a nice one to use these).
…sorry the codes recently started popping up….
Never heard of these, but, man, yet again, imagining all the possibilities with such stuff is great fun! I wish I could take a time machine to 2045 and see what’s going to last when it comes to all this innovative stuff and how it’s going to be used.
Isabella, heh, stores are going to start wondering why there are so many people with books loitering around them
Kathleen, I agree, it will be interesting to see how it develops especially since it shouldn’t add to the cost of a regular book.
Danielle, your library is so on top of things! I have a cell phone but I refuse to pay the outrageous cost of connecting it to the internet. I even have the texting feature on it blocked!
Emily, it would be fun to have a look into the future wouldn’t it?
Very interesting. This doesn’t sound like it’s about to be the mainstream, but it certainly is a peak into future options. Those QR codes are pretty huge, for one. Needs to get smaller…
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I am actually editing a book for it’s second printing and adding QR codes to the book. If you want to see it in action, you can order the book at http://www.PEPtheBook.com.
I just read the latest book of Ducth bestselling author Judith Visser (‘Time Out’) and this book has QR codes in it too. It was my first experience with this and I really liked it, I felt it added something, it was a bonus to an already very exciting story. The QR codes allowed me to see pictures of scenery, and to read background information (mini biographies) of some of the characters in the book. I thought it was great!
On Judith Vissers website you can see what some of the QR codes look like as a page, because she uploaded some pictures : http://www.judithvisser.nl
We are using QR codes to seamlessly link the printed words on the page with video clips to let the reader see and hear what the characters in the story are seeing and hearing. wow! To see how view a two minute video demo on:
http://Www.mediamint.net
The third book in our Ya Eco myster series, The Adventures of The Sizzling Six: The Living Treasure, is an Enhanced Print Book. We have created our own video sequences to include in the book,
For those still looking for some examples on how QR Codes can be used in books, check out the lifestyle ideas post on http://www.broadcastingonpaper.com