QR Coding

For Creative Media Practice, we were to create a short QR code storytelling experience. I'm not a huge fan of QR coding. Though mainly being used as advertising and promoting, i think a lot of the time they are being misused. Not to mention they look ugly and personally I think lack creativity. They seem to be popping up everywhere increasingly. Having said this i still do not think they are extremely popular with people as i do not feel they are inclined to use them most of the time. Usually people are more compelled to use them if they see 'Free download' or for getting more information on thins such as bands or links to competitions.

Having said this QR codes, aside form used as adversing can be used creatively in producing more visual information. I loved the idea that a Polish Museum came up with using QR codes in their campaign. People that visited the museum could use their phones to scan the codes on the paintings, a visual story could appear on screen and act out scenes from the paintings and bring the whole museum to life. This is a lovely example of using the codes to engage people into something people would normally find boring, but bringing it to life, gives a whole new element to the paintings, making people more intrigued and excited to learn more about it. Its a great way for children, who are very technology driven to be more involved within art.  

Having looked at more unique examples of using QR codes on the prezi, the idea of of QR codes on Tombstones, yep, tombstones came up. I was a little bit thrown by the idea, because I;d never imagine having something like that on anybody's grave. Having said that though, looking into some of the examples, I think its quite a special way of honouring somebody through a websites for example.It gives visiting loved ones’ graves a more rewarding and satisfying experience, especially as these websites could be updated regularly,. As well as the fact these memories would never fade. I guess a tribute to a loved one would be quite heart warming, however I do think an ugly qr code on a headstone would sway me off the idea.

 From this idea myself, Becca and Gemma formed a group and started looking at idea to form an idea of creating memories. At first our idea was to create a family tree, where people could use the codes to get more information on a person. However, for obvious reasons this may have proved difficult to do within a few hours.

Our second idea was to make a photo album. I personally loved the idea, as instead of images presented within a book, it was QR codes which would link you to images, video and music in relation to certain moment in ones life. We decided to go for 4 different 'big moment' in somebody life, which would usually be featured in a photo album/ life album; Birth, First Kiss, Wedding, First Child, Retirement,

For each of these we deciding to use a couple qr codes relevant to the life memory.

For Birth, we linked the code to a Google map location of a hospital, where our character (Lizzy Parker) was born.

For the first kiss memory, a link to a photo of their kiss, as well as a link to a spotify music track that reminded her of it.

For her Wedding chapter, a code that took the audience to the wedding video, uploaded onto YouTube; and another code that spoke the vows the couple took ( though the voice did sound a bit like Dracula)

For the First born baby memory would link to a calender event of the due date of the baby, with another code linking to the ultrasound scan on Youtube!

Finally for the retirement code, am adorable video of the couple in retirement. playing the piano together.

I really wish I'd taken a photo of the book we created, however, I did forget, so I included some of the codes here to remind you of a few that I'd had saved. Overall, I do think the idea of using QR codes as getting more information and using them as permanent memories are a brilliant idea, especially in this modern era, where photo albums and books are becoming less popular. Even though i'm quite traditional and love looking as photographs in front of me, and not uploaded onto the internet.