The image on the right is a QR or 'quick response' code. Originating in Japan they were initially used by companies as tracking devices. Unlike traditional barcodes QR codes are two dimensional and are able to store both alpha and numerical content (up to 7000 numerical or 4300 alpha-numerical characters long). The information stored within these codes can be anything from urls, to telephone numbers, to addresses or even entire poems.
The QR code above converts into the Library homepage. For you to be able to read this you’ll need a mobile camera phone and reader software. Some of the later Nokia phones already have the software installed and for iPhones it’s easy to pick something up from the app store, like BeeTagg or Quickmark. You could try Googling your phone’s make and model to find out what software you need or alternatively try some of the following:
To read the code you just need to take a photograph with your phone’s camera and allow the reader software to do the rest. For those of you with Internet enabled phones you’ll be directed straight to the URL via your mobile browser. To find out more about QR codes visit the library news page and for details on connecting your phone to the university’s wireless network have a look at the instructions via CiCS.
The University Library is currently piloting the use of QR codes and we are keen to discuss your ideas on how we could be making use of this technology to support our library services. Some suggestions have included codes
which link to the library catalogue and our library blogs for mobile bookmarking purposes or the inclusion of codes on catalogue records to save bibliographic details. We are also working on attaching QR codes to a sample of our paper journal runs to link users to their electronic equivalents via Find it @ Sheffield.If you have any ideas about how we can use QR codes in the Library we'd like to hear them. By leaving a comment against this blog post you'll automatically be entered into our competition to win a brand spanking new iPod Touch.
The deadline for entries is 30 November and the competition is open to all University of Sheffield students, via the four library blogs:
Hi Sebastian
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. IC computer booking seems to be a popular request!
Good luck in the competition
Vic
# R codes on computers to scan and book a computer while in the IC so there's no need to find a free computer to log on to find one with plenty of spare time left.
ReplyDelete# Scan a QR code in a book to find the price on amazon etc. if the book is useful and would like to consider buying a copy
# Scan a QR code in a book to show related books online
# Scan a QR code in a book to find the text (whole book) online
# QR codes on books to check when the return date is due
# Scan QR codes on bookcase to see list of books on shelf as it is easy to miss the book you want
# Scan QR codes on Computer rooms to link to book computer room
# Scan updating QR code on low TV screens on floors to show number of free computers on floor
Hi Raghav
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Are you suggesting that by tracking a book we could establish where it is best located? Intersting idea, thanks :-)
Good luck in the competition
Vic
I think the QR application should be used to check the return date of the book (always a hassle),to check if there is an eBook available; and probably most crucial in the restructuring of the whole library system-QR codes should determine where the books are stored in the library.
ReplyDeleteHi Mhairi
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition
Vic
a QR code somewhere on the way in to show you the exact location of available computers
ReplyDeletesomehow using the QR codes to let a person know when a book they have reserved is now available
#QR code on the inside of the book so that you can easily renew a book
ReplyDelete#QR codes to buy printing credits incase you have no cash on you
#QR codes to pay off library fines for late returns
Hi Jonathon
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition.
Vic
- QR codes in recommended reading lists to link to library stock and/or online bookstores
ReplyDelete- Invite blackwells to produce QR codes for special deals on books that are required reading
Oh and:
ReplyDelete- QR codes in book/online to link to e-book versions
- QR codes on shelf/somewhere near holding location to check for due date (when all books are gone) and then reserve it if wanted
Hi Steve
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team.
Lazy and neurotic? More likely is that what you describe is the behaviour of most library users. Your suggestion to bring browsing and the library catalogue together is a fantastic one. Thank you :-)
Good luck in the competition.
Vic
Hi
ReplyDeleteI never really do a star search to locate the book I want, I generally just walk to the library shelf and see what books are in the "field" that interests me. I don't use star search because its very time consuming and I am not good at entering search terms or the search terms I enter don't "link" to the type of books I want.
If you don't use star then you don't know if a book is on loan. It would be good to be able to walk to the shelf and if the book is physically out (on loan, lost etc) but there is a piece of card that has the title of the book on with a QR code on, scanning the code would link to star and tell you when the book is back or if it is lost or damaged and unavailable. It could also provide a "sorry this book is unavailable at the moment, we recommed you look for..." and a list of alternatives is provided and their location in the library.
Also, sometimes its nice to know everyone is looking at the same resources and when a book is either too basic or too advanced for your position on the course. So you could scan the QR code of a book and it could display basic info and say something like "this book is recommended for phase 1a medicine, or revision for the phase 4 final exams" if i picked up a book and it said this this would be good because then i wouldn't trawl through it and be either confused or waste my time.
Secondary to this you could display the demographics of the people borrowing books. So you could scan the code and it could say "in the past twelve months XXX number of medical/dental/engineering students borrowed this book".
Just some thoughts. Mostly around the fact that I am both lazy and neurotic in the library!
Steve
-QR codes on books to show which other books someone got out at the same time as taking out that one, so you can find out about other useful books
ReplyDelete-QR codes in library linking to journal database on the relevant e.g. Medline for Medicine without having to log in through MUSE
-QR code linking to a rating/review area online where Sheffield students can either leave a star rating or a written review
the whole idea is good but surely would need a total revamp of the IT system to be able to accept QR codes to say renew books or add money to print.
ReplyDeleteAn easy example suggested by Steve above would be that all physical copies of ebooks have a QR link to the ebook version. However, you are unlikely to want to read that on your mobile. A link on the shelf to the STAR catalogue makes very good sense - you notice a book is not there and within seconds you can find out when it is due back etc etc. If you could tie in reserving it would be useful also!
Some of the journals (notably NEJM) have a mobile site, a QR reader here could lead you straight to that so you could read the copy online.
Hi Charlie
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition.
Vic
Ps you have also reminded me to blog about the information skills clinic. No QR code for this yet but perhaps in time ...
I think QR codes are exciting, and I think they have a lot of uses in enhancing the usefulness of the library. I've already used them in Europe a lot, and they've been brilliant at making things easier to find or advertising special offers.
ReplyDelete1. The most useful implementation of QR codes would be including them in the search results from the library website. That way, I wont have to write down lots of information to find them book, I can just scan the code(s) and walk to the aisle I want by either searching at the library of the comfort of my own home.
2. You could put them on shelves of different subject areas of medicine/dentistry. e.g. Cardiology, and then it would link to a a list of the recommended reading for that subject.
3. You could use them inside the cover of textbooks to link to related videos on the subject. In fact, inside the cover of textbooks you could add any information you wanted, including links to related books.
4. In the computer rooms you could have a QR code advertising the wireless connection with a link to how to set up the wireless connection for your laptop/device.
5. You could use them to advertise facilities nearby by printing them in a different colour (e.g. red or green) pointing out things like where the stairs go to, wireless, or where the nearest toilets are etc.
6. If you have adverts for skills/training days, you could add a QR code on them linking to the page to sign for the event. Brilliant because you can then sign up on the spot!
Hope that helps :D
Charlie
I think the suggestion of using them to store reference data would be useful but improvements to star would be even better. It would be useful to be able to import references form star into refman or endnote.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition. Star to Endnote is now available btw. Is you want a demo contact Frances Ludlow, our Liaison Librarian; f.ludlow@shef.ac.uk
Vic
Hi Neeraj
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition.
Vic
A QR link to e-journals would be great.
ReplyDeleteOr when searching for books if a custom QR could be generated, which would display the selected items location on a phone. This would save writing down a long list of reference codes (e.g. WU500, BC450, etc) and if it were arranged suitabily with relation to location, would save considerable time.
Hi Catherine
ReplyDeleteYou raise a good point.
I'm not especially techie either but what I do know is that my iPhone does seem to struggle with tiny and/or complex codes. We are looking at using URL shorteners to produce less complex codes. To find out about your own phone visit http://www.tigtags.com/getqr
Many thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition.
Vic
I agree with Neeraj - a link to e-journals would be fantastic.
ReplyDeleteMy 'concerns' might come across as quite silly (as I am really no good with techy stuff), but does it matter how many megapixels your phone camera can produce? and how much/ how difficult is it to get the reader software? Also, if it is introduced, will they make it part of the Library induction..?
Hi Mark
ReplyDeleteLinking lectures with recommended reading is a great suggestion. Many thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition.
Vic
1). I feel lectures should use them when citing a text, if a QR code was used in the powerpoint, we could take pictures of it there an then.
ReplyDeleteWith journal this would save having to hurridly scribble (illegibly) the journal reference and then search for it.
With books refernced, if a QR code was given for the library holdings or shop links such as amazon, this again would save searching for the book or again scribbling down its name. I'm sure this would be very popular with lectures touting books they had written.
2). I'm sure someone has suggested using QR codes to link to e journals, but if GQ codes can contain over 4000 characters what about converting abstracts or even entire journal articles to QR codes (probably more than, minus the pictures). This would allow the journal/abstract to be accessed when you don't have internet access, i'm sure it would be quicker too.
It would be useful if the QR code could be used to store the information required for listing a book as a reference in a bibliography. It could contain the date of publication, printing company and location, which can often be difficult and time consuming to find as books often list several dates and locations in the publication information.
ReplyDeleteHi Robert
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your helpful suggestions which I will pass to the QR codes project team. Good luck in the competition.
Vic
I haven't read the comments yet, but I would suggest using it in lecture handouts or course handbooks. This could be linked to the library website and allow users to reserve books directly from using the QR code. It would save a lot of time typing anything down in most cases and aslo remove any input errors from the user.
ReplyDeleteAlso if its placed inside every library book then users can take a picture of the QR code and reserve books that way too. For instance, a friend has a book that you have found is very helpful and would like to check its availablity in the uni libraries.
Something that would be amazing is if the system could be linked to other universities. So if a friend has a book that you find helpful but they go to a different uni, the QR code could be used to go to a webpage that allowed you to view any of the books within your own uni library.
I hope these ideas are of any help.
1) I agree with Robert, it would be great if the QR code could store the information of books and journals for references (both Vancouver and Harvard) as it would save on time when coming to writing essays - but it would also mean that when you see a reference listed in another text which you want to find and read, a QR code would mean that you'd be able to find the text a lot more easily. Also Dami's suggestion:
ReplyDelete"if its placed inside every library book then users can take a picture of the QR code and reserve books that way too. For instance, a friend has a book that you have found is very helpful and would like to check its availability in the uni libraries"
this would be really good if it was feasible.
Also - some books are available online for free, and if you could take a photo of a QR code and then search it on the internet to find a free online copy, this would also be good.
I am sorry if this post comes across as negative - I am trying to be constructive. As a keen user of technology, I remained unconvinced by the usefulness of QR codes it this context.
ReplyDeleteIt has previously been commented "Does the quality of your camera affect ability to use these codes". Yes is the answer. Is the software easily accessible - no, not for the majority of users not using something a "smart phone". Will most people be able to read a QR code off a projection screen 50 feet away? Probably not.
Furthermore, if a student really desires to look up an article or a book, simply having a list of said articles and books on the handout should be sufficient. When it comes to journals, a QR link will not usually be able to link directly to full text, since the majority of such online publications require a fairly complex login through MUSE, then the library then the journal system in order to work. The majority of phones are not sufficiently internet enabled to allow easy login through these systems and a comfortable reading of journals anyway - ever tried logging into MUSE on a standard Nokia web browser?
Another issue is that many lecturers are not very technologically competent. As the guy in my year well noted for having to help the lecturers sort out the projectors, pluggin in their laptops and explaining sometimes the basics of showing a powerpoint slide, I am not confident that most lecturers have the time nor inclination to follow something like this.
Possibly my biggest problem with QR codes: humans cannot read them. The whole point of putting them into handouts is to make it easier for people to access information, yet without a compatible phone and the software required, the information is useless! This would require lecturers not simply to use the QR code, but also to put the text that the QR code contains, taking up twice as much space and time.
Whilst using new technology is important, I feel the university could make better inroads by, for example, making Minerva more accessible. As a web designer myself, the Minerva side menu with 28 different options is difficult for users, and hard to effectively maintain. A CSS based collapsible menu with 5 main sections, and numerous submenus would be far easier to use.
Lecturers *could* start by including QR codes on handouts. I think probably more important would be ensuring that all or even most lecturers are giving out useful handouts, or putting lecture notes online. And if they are putting the notes online, a simple http link would work just as well.
If we are really wanting to get 21st century, let's wait on the development of phone software that will be able to read text itself, thus negating the need for a large, not very sexy black and white icon, and increasing accessibility without splitting the world into those that can, and those that can't.
Thanks, Chris
One point I forgot to make - the majority of comments above as to how this would be useful can be achieved just as usefully through a phone based barcode reader. Many of the phones already mentioned have a barcode reader - for example, the iphone - http://www.ismashphone.com/2009/05/red-laser-the-first-accurate-iphone-barcode-scanner-hits-the-app-store.html.
ReplyDeleteNot only does this allow users to, for example from points above:
# Scan a barcode in a book to find the price on amazon etc. if the book is useful and would like to consider buying a copy
# Scan a barcode in a book to show related books online
# Scan a barcode in a book to find the text (whole book) online
But it is a readily used technology already in use on the vast majority of books, journals and products anyway.
Some suggestions such as "Scan updating QR code on low TV screens on floors to show number of free computers on floor" clearly reduce accessibility, unless you also have the text visible to. And if there is text on a screen saying "4 computers available on floor" and a QR code next to it, who is going to be stupid enough to bother to scan the QR code to get the same information, and if so, should we really be encouraging them?
I'm finished now! sorry...
Hi Chris
ReplyDeleteThese comments are really useful, thank you. The project team are keen to consider whether QR codes are the best way to link to, and promote resources and your comments reflect some of the discussions currently taking place. Nothing to apologise for ... we need to consider the negatives and you outline these very well.
Vic
Hello, I believe that a good way of using the QR codes would be to have the codes relating to the name, author and ISBN number as well as the library number. This information could then be sent as an email to the users account or saving online someway. This could then provide the student with information they need to purchase the book or find the same book again quickly and easily.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteHave seen QR codes before but never understood what they were for. VERY impressed with the explanation here and like the concept a lot. However, I really think there needs to be a lot of work done at the University to make library facilities much more mobile phone friendly. I still am unable to get my Xperia X1 to connect to the wi-fi in the NGH library and if i could, using QR codes might be very useful.
thanks for the library tutorial today, my search skills are not only much better now, but I've learned about QR codes as well. Cheers!
I think that students should be able to make their own QR code. On this code would be their personal details which could be easily retrieved using a scanner.
ReplyDeleteThis would solve all the time wasted by faffing around with paperwork, especialy in various registration forms, getting it wrong and having to fill in another one! This would save alot of time when students are signing up for this 'n' that on freshers week!
Hi, I was wondering if the competition had finished at the end date was 30th November
ReplyDelete