QR U?

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a fan of QR codes and the possibilities they offer.  For orientation this academic year we created a QR trail round Marylebone library to link people to further information or video clips (e.g. QR next to the self-service machine went to a video of someone using that machine).  When I get the time I will be reflecting on this and how it went (probably just in time for next year's orientation at this rate.....).  But this blog post I wanted to mention an exhibition I attended at the V&A (as part of MasterCard's Priceless London-which is brilliant by the way- attend one of their free priceless events if you can) entitled "Power of Making".  This exhibition, from the V&A and the Crafts Council, invites you to consider the role of making while marveling at the many curiosities on display such as a gorilla made out of wire coat-hangers, a wooden carved lion coffin and a six-necked guitar.  The bit that caught my eye though was 'QR U' beaded dress and necklace designed by Thorunn Arnadottir, a dress decorated with Swarovski Crystals beaded into QR codes.  See pictures and info here.  Queue a small group of slightly tipsy girls (MasterCard are very generous with their free bar) waving their smartphones around and trying to explain to the uninitiated what was happening.  Eventually we made the dress one work and stood round mesmerized by the accompanying YouTube clip.

However we were less-successful with the QR code pictured which was earlier in the exhibition and was supposed to link to the schedule for events taking place related to the exhibition.  Whether it was the unsteady hands or the code itself is unclear......