Does your grandson have to help you get your email? Well, if you’re reading this, you’re not as bad off as you think you are! The problem is finding the time, first to research it, and then more time trying to figure out the research. Ay carumba! It makes me tired just thinking about it. Don’t run away, but today is a lesson on one such thing – using QR codes. What the heck is a QR code, you may ask and why in the world would we want to use it? Stick this out and there will be a reward of sorts at the end.
BORING PART, BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
A QR code is just a fancy bar code. You know, like the bar code that’s on every single item in your Wal-Mart. That’s what the cashier scans to get the price. Or heck, you scan it yourself if you go through the Fast Lane at the grocery. QR stands for ‘Quick Response”, and once you understand how to use it, it really is very quick and fun. The most fun thing about them is a QR will do much more than a regular bar code. A QR will take you to photos, or a website…or a page in a magazine, on and on. You can scan a code with your smartphone or tablet and it will take you right where you want to go! No having to copy in a website address or dial a phone number. (Yes, you can even get a QR code that will dial a specific phone number or email).
SO, WHAT AM I UP TO?
I think that this QR thingie could serve us well, so I’m giving it a trial run in this blog. I’m going to give you the very easy steps below. If you’d like to try it out, follow the steps to install the QR reader onto your device and at the bottom of those instructions, I’m going to give you a QR code that will lead you somewhere. He, he.
FIRST OFF, YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD A QR READER ONTO YOUR DEVICE.
This can be an iPhone, an iPad, an Android or other Smartphone or tablet. The only thing that will take you a moment is to decide which one you want.
Since I’ve researched the readers for you, if you just choose the same one I chose, you can go download it, which will take maybe 2 minutes.
CAUTION: Don’t just download any QR reader. I tried a random one and it wanted me to download additional things before it would work. Aack! So, I wrote an expert, Leslie Saeta and asked her opinion on a reader without any spam. This is the link she sent me to the best Visual QR code readers: http://www.visualead.com/qr-code-tutorials/what-is-the-best-qr-code-reader.
This morning, I clicked that link and researched the readers they suggest. I have an Android phone, so I chose the very first one on that list: (Barcode Scanner), because it was number one and mostly because I just didn’t want to read about all of the others. And it’s FREE, too.
(For iPhone, the list recommends using an app called, “QR Reader for iPhone).
TO DOWNLOAD THE QR READER TO YOUR CELL PHONE or TABLET:
- Find the Programs icon on your cell phone. Then look around for Google Play or Play Store in the program list. (You would use iTunes on iPad/iPhone). I then typed “Bar Code Scanner” for my Android phone (QR Reader for iPad/iPhone if you have an iPad/iPhone) into the search box.
- Bar Code Scanner app came up, along with the option to INSTALL. It’s free, so I clicked install and about 30 seconds later, it was on my phone. Woo-hoooo! I was feeling really smart and sassy.
- Then, if you click on the Bar Code Scanner App to open it up, you’ll see a sort of ‘camera-type’ screen with little frame marks. You are supposed to center the code inside those little frame marks. THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO DO. You don’t even have to click anything! The phone will see the code and recognize it automatically. It may take you right to the destination, or it’s possible it may give you the link – and if it gives you the link, you’ll have to click on it. Ugh…the work involved! Ha.
- So, okay, let’s give this a try. If you have the app downloaded, here is my very own QR code that I made up for you today. Where will it take you?
Do you recall last week when I introduced a set of Vintage Christmas Cards in packet form? I thought it would be fun if I could give you the STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOS for those cards!
If you scroll down to the QR code below, then hold your phone (with the Barcode Scanner program open on your phone, of course) it will recognize the code and take you to a Dropbox file where you’ll see step-by-step photos to go along with the waxing diagrams for each card in the Vintage Card Packet!
At least, I HOPE that is what will happen! Yipe! I tried it myself and it worked great. But I need a few more guinea pigs to try it out, too. I need to give Murphy a chance to put in his two cents, so I can hone this to perfection. Remember, this is my first try at this so let me know if it worked for you and how much trouble it was. Would you use it again (Assuming it works right this time. Gulp)? I think this could be really cool for lessons/packets…lots of photos I couldn’t normally put in a lesson packet, or heck, even a DVD attached! I think there are a lot of ways we could use it.
Also, this code is good forever. There’s no time limit. You can use it anytime and it will always take you to the same place.
Thanks to any of you who actually read this far! And double thanks to anyone who has a moment this time of year to actually give this a try! I’ll still love you if you don’t.
Kathie xo
It worked great….thank you so much
Ha ha You have us figured out! You sent great instructions for downloading the reader & using the QR, which I plan on trying after the holidays when I have time to trade in my ……….flip phone- I’m still living with the dinosaurs! Cute Christmas designs Kathie!
woohoo!!!!! it worked, very cool!!!! Merry Christmas and thanks for the gift.
It WORKS. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy, I downloaded the app, took the scan, but can’t find where it dropped it so I could open it.
I downloaded, the Qar reader, scanned the code and saw the instructions. Problem was it wanted me to install Dropbox rather than putting in the one I alreafy have. Will try again when I have more time
Okay Elaine, That’s what I wanted to know. I have to find another way to give a QR code to a JPEG file, other than Dropbox. Does anybody out there know how to do it?
And Judy, the app should just open up the file and put it right there in front of you….I think. That’s how it worked for me. Darn, this may be trickier than I thought. Thanks to all of you for your willingness to be guinea pigs.
I had success in getting to the packet steps. I know where it is on my phone, but I can’t remember my Dropbox password. Technology. It’s always something. But thank you! Have a Merry Holiday season, which includes Christmas and many other observances that I am not sure how to spell. I’m looking forward to a fun 2015. AND wish the very best to you.
I DID IT! My challenge was to get the picture since I downloaded the scanner to my Ipad where I opened your email — soooooo — I opened your email on my laptop and took the picture from there — easy peasy — there were those cute images! BUT WHERE???? I discovered I had to download the DROPBOX app and when I did the pix were right there! Thanks Kathie!
Yeah Kathie! I have an older iPhone and use I-nigma. I scanned the QR code and there were 12 step by step photos! Fun! (Might be better to open this post on my phone or computer and then scan with my iPad so they are a bit bigger to look at)
Kathy…this is SO COOL!!! It worked well for me, but I had to first open the dropbox app and have the account enabled and sync’d on my iPhone (previously I had only used the account from my computer and my iPad). after opening the dropbox app on my phone and establishing a link with my dropbox account on that device, I took the scan with the QR app on my iPhone. I now have those step by step photos in a folder which dropbox created for me automatically…named Vintage cards step by step. THANK YOU!!! It’s incredible to think that little QR code could do that! What an age we live in…I am just hoping I can keep up! Thanks for sharing and thanks for opening my mind to something new…yet again. xo
omg, Rebecca, that sounds like a LOT of work. I want it to be much easier than that, so I’ll have to work on this.
Ouch – read through this post – head hurts!
Worked great. Already had the QR code loaded, so didn’t take any time at all to download the pictures. I also have the hard copies I bought this month. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas, Sweetie! 🙂
IPhone 6 did it all. I just downloaded what Kathie recommended for iPhone and down the came and I registered my drop box and there they are! My grandson will be so tickled to know I am learning what he is teaching me. Baby Boomers Rock!
Thanks Kathy. It worked fine and since I just got a new smart phone, I finally can do some things that my flip phone couldn’t do. I love the cards! Have a Merry Christmas!
Thanks for teaching us technology too. Worked great. I remember years ago when Dolores was trying to talk you into getting a website. You do nothing in a small way!
OMG!! I love it. It’s so neat!! You are so clever. = ) I can’t wait to get started. I just got all my stuff yesterday. Thanks Kathie !!
I’ve had a smart phone over two years, and have been using a QR code reader program almost as long. Unfortunately I was reading this latest “Tips on Tuesdays” email ON my smart phone. I briefly thought about folding the phone over itself to read the QR code in the email. No worries. I figured out that the coded information was regarding a how-to on one of your very fine batik processes. It’s temping for me to branch out from watercolors and acrylics, and try batik-ing. It looks fun but complicated. For now my amount of studio space is limited. Maybe later. Thank you for all you do, and all the encouragement and information you put into your weekly email and blog. -Julian Buck.
Now I can picture that…..you trying to fold the phone over on itself to read the QR code. ha. Thanks again, Julian and have a wonderful Holiday Season.
Sherry, yes, it only took me about 10 years to take Delores’s suggestion about a website. So, see, everyone? Back in the old days, I couldn’t no ‘nuttin’, but now I can!
Karen, did you have to download Dropbox?
Big Cmas hugs to you. xo
Another reason the trade in my flip phone –
Worked!!
Worked for me! A great tool to add to the art box. Thanks.
Kathie _ I have a Blackberry and already had a smart tag scanner and drop box on it . Worked very smoothly and I am not really very Tech savy so cannot help I am afraid on what else you could do. Thank you so much for your wonderful hints over time and Wising you a very Merry Christmas.
Thanks! It worked. I did have to download it to my phone so I could scan from my iPad. Also works the other way around……much bigger pictures!
Thanks little guinea piglets!
Thanks! I have wanted to try this but didn’t have a clue. I have an i-phone 5s. It repeatedly read the code till I turned it away. Then I went to history in the choices to see the pictures.
Scanned and it can up! Yea!
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
thanks, this is so cool, got this on my ipad
I had to download Drop box, and it worked. Thanks and have a wonderful Christmas!
I will try later on my IPAD (which I only use for email). LOL I only have an ‘old phone’ too. There are a number of us dinosaurs out there…. 🙂
It worked. Thanks for the cute cards.