Tag: quick response codes

QR codes take central role in a new surf breaks plan

| August 7, 2013

The Australian Gold Coast may use the smartphone friendly barcodes to warn of potential dangers.

Plans are being formed to incorporate the use of QR codes painted onto signs near the Gold Coast surf breaks and boat ramps in Australia, to help to provide visiting boaters and surfers with the information they need about potential hidden risks and dangers in the waters, through the use of one simple scan.

All that water users need to do is scan the barcode with their smartphones for up to date information.

The concept of applying the QR codes for this purpose was brought up at a Currumbin Alley safety meeting recently. This meeting was attended by boaters and surfers, as well as Hal Morris (the CEO of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority), and the MP for Currumbin, Jann Stuckey.

The system using the QR codes would help to inform boaters and surfers who aren’t familiar with the specific locations.

QR codes warn of dangerAccording to Morris, the system of QR codes would direct scanners to websites created specifically for that purpose. It is hoped that this will provide an efficient, simple, direct, and innovative way to provide boaters and surfers with the information that they need to remain safe when they are not familiar with the local spots. It will begin as a smaller project but, when shown to be successful, this project will be broadened to include the entire city.

He explained that “We want to develop a surf and waterways user guide for the Gold Coast that could be accessed through the QR codes.”

The Gold Coast Surf Council is also eager to provide the surf breaks within the city with classification based on their risk and danger levels, said Morris. He also added that this information could also be included in the guide for the waterway. Also in the guide, he said, will be the details on local attractions, tide times, and links to various surf cameras.

Gary Brown, the president of Marine Rescue Queensland Currumbin, stated that introducing the QR codes on the signage is an important step forward for surfers and boaters, alike.

QR codes will make diapers the next wearable tech

| July 16, 2013

The latest “smart diaper” product provides parents with a color coded system to detect urinary tract infections.

A new form of diaper that uses scannable QR codes has just been invented by an American husband and wife team that will help other parents to be able to detect potentially developing urinary issues before they become problematic.

Though the product is only in its prototype phase now, it has the potential to be very helpful to concerned parents.

The design of the diaper includes strips that come in contact with the absorbent area and that change color when they are wet. These strips are located around QR codes that can then be scanned by the parents of the child.

When the QR codes are scanned the associated app snaps an image of the color of the strips.

QR codes on diapersThe app then proceeds to perform an analysis of the color of the strips so that the parent can tell whether or not a urinary infection may be present. The reason that these QR codes can be very helpful to parents is that urinary tract infections (UTIs) impact approximately 8 percent of all babies. They are a particular concern among girls.

Without tools such as the QR codes on the color coded diapers, it can be very difficult for parents to detect the infections until they have fully developed and begin presenting very unpleasant symptoms such as fever and irritability.

With the smart diaper, parents are armed with a form of early warning system that can let them know if an infection could be coming on, even before any other symptoms have appeared. All that is required is that QR codes be scanned once per day or so. The app not only scans the color of the strips on the diaper, but it also stores the data so that medical professionals can examine it during checkups or if a problem has been detected. This can help doctors to recognize potential dehydration or kidney dysfunction.

Though the response to these QR codes on diapers has been very positive, Netmums, a U.K. based parenting advice website has cautioned parents not to forget to use common sense just because they have a new technology tool.