QR Code Survey Shows That The Quick Response Technology Hasn't Caught On (INFOGRAPHIC)

Have you scanned a QR code recently? How about ever?

A new infographic from Chicago-based market research firm Lab42 shows that a majority of people still have not warmed up to Quick Response (QR) codes. (For those who don't know, a QR code is that little black-and-white box that is sometimes featured toward the bottom of advertisement posters). Lab42 surveyed 500 adult Americans about their use of and experience with QR codes, and though I see QR codes everywhere, it would seem that most people are, like me, not taking the time to scan them.

Notable findings from Lab42's research:

-56 percent of respondents were "not familiar" with QR codes. 43 percent of those people had never heard of QR codes. I would bet that something like 95 percent of those people have seen QR codes and not known what they were called, however.
-46 percent of people who said they had scanned a QR code said they did so to get a discount at a retail store, while 43 percent had done so out of sheer curiosity.
-When tasked with scanning a QR code given to them by Lab42, only 13% were able to.

Having recently used a QR code as both airfare and for entry into a baseball game, I can speak to their usefulness and convenience as tickets. And though QR codes seem to be taking over New York City--all building permits will have them by 2013, according to TechCrunch--they apparently have not taken off among pedestrians or shoppers.

QR codes may be the future of advertising or the next "Friend us at facebook.com/yourcompanyhere"; for now, however, they remain little more than a consumer curiosity, or mystery, or worse.

Take a look at Lab42's infographic (below). Have you ever used a QR code?

Quick Poll

Have you ever used a QR code?

Yes

No

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

LOOK: Larger version available at Lab42 Blog.

Comments

[RobertFromMN]

07:05 AM on 08/11/2011

I never pay any attention to advertisements. To me, they're nothing but an obnoxious interruption. I certainly wouldn't take the time to scan some odd little box in the corner of an ad to find out more about a product, and I'm amazed that anyone would.
And I've never understood anyone who "friends", "follows" or "likes" a product, brand, company, corporation, etc.. Weirdos.

[loudneighbor]

09:35 AM on 08/11/2011

It's the Consumer Culture we live in. Most of us were raised suckling on the Glass Teat, where Advertising is King. It's why I don't watch tv but for the Sunday News shows (Face the Nation) and MHz networks, which is international news. Pretty tough to not get brainwashed with all this ad crap bombarding us 24/7.

[Phemale]

07:54 PM on 08/11/2011

You're really amazed that a lot of people are consumers and impulse shoppers?

Consumer spending is a very important element of our nation's economy.

As for, "friending" /"following"/"liking" companies that you don't work at or have some personal connection to, is a bit odd to me as well; But hey, most people are followers and not leaders.

[tonyadj]

05:39 PM on 08/10/2011

There's such thing as google people...if you don't know how something works do the research and find out! Don't be left out because of your inability to do the research.

[Phemale]

08:00 PM on 08/11/2011

There's also an application titled, Google Goggles, which is a very nice addition to Google Search.
So you can either open google search, or open Googles which makes the experience a bit more useful.

But hey,it's all about personal preference.
http://www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#text

[Wayne Caswell]

04:43 PM on 08/10/2011

And you still didn't tell us how to scan? So don't complain. BTW, my iPhone takes a nice picture of the QR code, but it doesn't take me to a website. What's missing besides a dense user?

[nishioka]

09:48 AM on 08/11/2011

A QR reader app... there are a couple to pick from in the App Store.

[Phemale]

08:04 PM on 08/11/2011

Try these:
http://www.appolicious.com/curated-apps/3589-qr-code-reader-smackdown?page=11&sort=price&view=list

http://www.goospoos.com/2011/07/qr-code/

[Bishop Coxcomb]

03:07 PM on 08/10/2011

I don't know how to scan a QR code off a TV show. It seems like that never works like it is supposed to.

[Phemale]

01:03 PM on 08/10/2011

I utilize QR Codes/2D Codes on a regular basis as a very important marketing tool; However, I agree that people aren't being properly informed about these codes.

For the most part, the only people who are knowledgeable of QR codes are people who are business owners and owners of smartphones.

And not all smartphone owners know about the codes.

QR Codes 101
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-qr-codes-can-grow-your-business/

[scott456]

11:22 AM on 08/10/2011

Tell me what it is an maybe I'll use it.

[Phemale]

01:05 PM on 08/10/2011

QR Codes 101
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-qr-codes-can-grow-your-business/

[benji85]

10:13 AM on 08/10/2011

There are never instructions how to do so on the advertisements I've seen, so can you expect people to do so if they just see some black and white abstract picture.

[Phemale]

01:13 PM on 08/10/2011

I agree that there needs to be much better education regarding QR/2D Codes but there is a very good reason why us business owners don't instruct people to use a smartphone.

The reason why is because we want to seem like a $chill for smartphone companies; The codes are utilized as a marketing tool that also promotes smartphone usage but it is not necessary for business owners to blatantly promote those phones.

Out of curiosity, do you own a smartphone?

[benji85]

05:41 PM on 08/10/2011

Yes I do own a smartphone, however I don't typically participate in those short texts marketing campaigns. I am not comfortable just giving out my phone number like that.

[BruntLIVE]

07:27 AM on 08/10/2011

100% of the 87% that don't QR code can READ!!!!!!!!

[RedEbbm]

02:33 AM on 08/10/2011

Apps make it so easy, i just open and point and it registers it.

Though I'm not surprised, when it comes to most peoples electronic devices I usually see app barf and disorganized array of games and useless utilities. Most people don't really need smartphones.

[jennielake]

12:15 AM on 08/10/2011

I still dont know how to do it, and the post didnt even have a link to help people learn how - help!

... Im not blonde though - I just play one here on the web... lol

Could someone post instructions, or a link that shows how?

[earthboy]

03:22 AM on 08/10/2011

http://www.qrcode.es/?page_id=89&language=en

[Karen Kennedy]

11:22 PM on 08/09/2011

I am in a store and have created them for lots of our merchandise. People often come in who are not familiar with them, but once I show them how to download the app and use them, they love them.

[Roray]

10:00 PM on 08/09/2011

Qr codes are worthless. Text encoded in a code which must be scanned to see the text??? Just print the damn text!!!

[Phemale]

01:17 PM on 08/10/2011

You aren't understanding the technology.
QR Codes 101
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-qr-codes-can-grow-your-business/

[arizonahd]

06:44 PM on 08/09/2011

You mean those bar code thingies?

[DegenerationX316]

06:42 PM on 08/09/2011

I'm still trying to figure out why a certain group of individuals have a smartphones. The phones is suppose to make everything easier for you, but the individual makes it more difficult to use.

[Phemale]

01:19 PM on 08/10/2011

Huh?

It's all about the way that you set-up your smarthphone to conform to your life.

I'm not understanding what you are finding more difficult.

[dngrwill]

06:06 PM on 08/09/2011

How about instead of a QR code, you scan something called a url. These codes, as far as I can tell, offer nothing to consumers but allow companies to track/collect info.

[single malt]

08:59 PM on 08/09/2011

qr-code on a product could bring up a mobile site with the different ways you could get help. it could pull up an option for a coupon if you checkin. on a bus stop it could pull up a mobile site showing the bus times and even show where the bus is on route. someday there might be a carbon footprint qrcode on all products where you can scan and then get a mobile sit showing the footprint of the product from beginning to end. It all depends on how people choose to use it. It can be an effective tool for making it easy for the consumer to get information. It also can be another way to annoy people.

[dngrwill]

09:38 AM on 08/10/2011

I understand all of that, but question the advantages over a url. I can 'scan' a url with my phone and have it do the exact same thing, only more efficiently because the QR code is simply pointing at a url. In fact, the phone doesn't 'scan' it but takes a picture of it and sends that back for image processing.