QR and the Museum

Spooky greetings!

First off, I am seeing updates from the Poe House circulating on their official facebook page.  It seems as if there is something cooking behind the scenes for next year and the media has not been treating them fairly.  To be continued at another time, but I recommend if you have a facebook account to "like" them as they seem to be the only source of accurate information.  And as for the California position, I was not chosen.  As sweet as it would have been, as they say, perhaps it wasn't meant to be.  I wish them nothing but the best and am grateful for the shot.  Onward....

On to this episode's subject....  the QR.

A QR code is a small, square barcode that, when scanned, opens a webpage into an end-user's smartphone.  If you look in the Sunday circular ads/coupons, they are all over them.  They are also next to prices on merchandise at Best Buy.  The last time I went to the Denver Art Museum, they were in the information panels beside the artwork. 

This is a very cheap and easy way to convey more information to guests within the museum space.  And when I say cheap, I mean free to generate by going to the following site (example only, not an endorsement):

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

Type in the webpage you want the scanner to go to, a code is generated, print out the code, and voila!  Instant info that can be changed to reflect updated information in a few keystrokes.

So, what's the catch?

1)  Museums will need an html programmer on staff.  Usually whomever is handling IT or the collections/web database already has the knowledge and just needs the time to put it together.

2)  By using this, the museum is assuming that all patrons have smart phones and that all of those smart phones are charged.  This can cause a problem.  Despite smart phones being more and more common, your basic phone is still prevalent.  Also, this does require a scanner app (also free to download for the end-user on both Droid and iPhone platforms).  Many who have smart phones have no idea of the infinite capabilities of it.  I consider myself to be rather tech savvy and still think my Droid Bionic is often better suited to be a hockey puck.  I have yet to sit down and figure out how to sync it remotely with my desktop pc.  I know it can.  Finally, smart phones have short battery life.  A speed charge station with multiple plugs (similar to those found in airports) at strategic stations may be in order depending on the size of the museum.  That could be cost prohibitive.

3)  Connectivity is the biggest challenge I have found.  At the DAM, there were QR codes in abundance but zero network connection.  This rendered them useless.  I find that connection in structures with heavy technology (particularly security), older buildings, crowded spaces, and rural areas to be sketchy at best. 

There are still some bugs to tweak out of this process.  But, I do believe this is the way that information transfer in the museum is headed.