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I do recall a few months ago seeing an advert on the tube which said "Google xyz" - I'm sorry I cannot remember either the product or the company but using this as an alternative to URLs on printed matter other than those in personal exchanges (e.g. business cards) stuck out in my mind. 2008/12/8 Mike Ellis <[log in to unmask]>: > I'm with Frankie... > > 1. re. QR codes. There aren't (m)any in the wild, and you absolutely can't assume that anyone will... > > a. Have an app to read them, > b. Know how to use an app to read them, > c. Be confident / have the ability to install the app to read them > > And finally - most importantly, > > d. Understand the "ubiquitous browsing" metaphor. > > In my experiences with my project www.stufflinker.com (a way of tagging things with textable "shortcodes"), the single biggest challenge to overcome is that people simply don't understand yet that something which happens "here" (on-gallery, on their phone, in the "real" world) can have an effect "there" (on the web, in their email, in the "virtual" world).. > > Not wanting to push a personal project (much), but the technical approach am taking is to avoid device inconsistencies by using a technology which is 100% ubiquitous: the text message. Even with this in place, the challenges are about users understanding the "Everyware" paradigm. For the most part, IMO, they don't. As more people browse the web with their mobiles, this will change, but right now, it isn't the norm. > > And 2. re. domain names: people don't remember them. Check your metrics! I'm reasonably confident that people will google you WAY more often than keying in your domain name. Interestingly, this is only going to become more common now that common browsers (Firefox, Chrome, IE to a certain extent) support searching in the address bar. I bet I'm in the majority in not typing domain names in but instead searching for "twitter" or "science museum" or "gmail" and clicking (or being directed to) the first result. I know the urls for all of these, but I simply can't be arsed to type them in. More Mike-style rants here: http://bit.ly/Vok7 :-) > > Giving users a reason to go online and then signposting ways to your content (including really good SEO stuff) is going to work best, I reckon. Also look at ways in which people could be allowed to email themselves the link. This works really well at the Science Museum - I don't have the figures but the figures for people who did this from the Energy gallery are pretty impressive. > > Cheers > > Mike > > > > Mike Ellis > Professional Services Group > > Eduserv > [log in to unmask] > tel: 01225 470522 > mob: 07017 031522 > fax: 01225 474301 > www.eduserv.org.uk > > -----Original Message----- > From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Frankie Roberto > Sent: 08 December 2008 13:16 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Putting web addresses on interpretation > > James Morley wrote: > > >> Does anyone have any evaluation, advice or just gut feelings about putting >> URLs on printed signage and in leaflets etc? I ask this specifically in the >> context of when you have a lot of in depth information online that people >> could use to follow up after their visit. > > > Interesting discussion. My instinct would be that very few people will > memorize the URL, whether it's to a specific page, to a 'shortcut' like > /blah, or even if it's just the home URL. Although this might depend on how > well-known your website is generally - the BBC for instance probably has a > greater recall factor for its bbc.co.uk domain than most websites do, > although they still manage to confuse things by switching branding every few > years (from BBCi to bbc.co.uk to 'Online' - see blog > post<http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/12/it_is_a_few_months.html> > ). > > In short, I'm willing to bet that most people will find your website via > searching (as your web stats probably already show). > > This doesn't mean there's no point in putting the URLs anywhere though, as > the most important thing isn't communicating where people can find your > website, but why they should bother. Displaying the URL may help to remind > visitors that you have a website (which you're proud enough of to be > promoting), whethere or not they remember it. > > That said, the main thing you can do is to give people a reason to go to > your website when they get home. Saying "there's more information about this > topic on our website" is a start, but is a bit vague, and begs the question > why can't have the information there and then. > > Better would be to play on the fact that your website can offer a different, > perhaps more interactive/personalised type of experience, or on the fact > that your website can be updated over time. So, something like "find out how > this topic affects your neighbourhood by entering your postcode on our > website" or "track this topic as it develops by subscribing to the news > updates on our website". > > This is all assuming a print -> online transition, which is tricky. If > you've got interactive terminals, then you can go one better showing your > website and/or letting people e-mail themselves a link to it or subscribing > to e-mail updates. All of which is much more effective than printing URLs on > the walls! (though do that too). > > As to 'QR codes' (2D barcodes) - has anyone seen anyone actually use them, > other than as a test? I've got a brand new Nokia phone, and I can't even > find the code-reading application (which apparently is pre-installed > somewhere...). > > Frankie Roberto > Experience Designer, Rattle > 0114 2706977 > > ************************************************** > For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk > ************************************************** > > > > Unless otherwise agreed expressly in writing by a senior manager of > Eduserv, this communication is to be treated as confidential and the > information in it may not be used or disclosed except for the purpose > for which it has been sent. > If you have reason to believe that you are not the intended recipient > of this communication, please contact the sender immediately. > No employee or agent is authorised to enter into any binding agreement > or contract on behalf of Eduserv or Eduserv Technologies Ltd., unless > that agreement is subsequently confirmed by the conclusion of a written > contract or the issue of a purchase order. > Eduserv (Limited by Guarantee) – company number 3763109 - and > Eduserv Technologies Ltd – company number – 4256630 - are both > companies incorporated in England and Wales and have their registered > offices at Queen Anne House, 11 Charlotte Street, Bath, BA1 2NE. > > > ************************************************** > For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk > ************************************************** > -- Tehmina Goskar, MA AMA [log in to unmask] Historical and Museum Research Web Communication and Learning Development ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk **************************************************