Tech News: QR Codes, Mobile Interfaces & RUOK?

The Prevalence of Smart Phones Brings Information Access Changes

QR Codes. Lately, Auraria Library users have seen signs with what look like bar codes on them, each code above a word or phrase describing what information the code represents.

These QR codes are designed to work with smart phones with cameras and bar code software. When a picture is taken of the QR code the phone translates the code and brings the user to a website for the information they're seeking. In the library, QR codes lead to such sites as the book renewal page. An Auraria Library-specific informational web page will be available soon. Meanwhile, for more information about QR (Quick Response) codes, also known as 2-D codes, hard links, or physical world links, here are some explainations:
Mobile Interfaces for Databases. Web pages can be difficult to manipulate on small mobile devices like smartphones. You'll notice that many of the Auraria Library databases now supply a link to a mobile interface from the databases page. In some cases, the database automatically detects a mobile user and adapts itself accordingly. Example: databases from Ebsco with mobile interface options.

Wassup? Ruok? In case the texting bug has not bitten you, here's a link to tiny lingo. (Articles report that variations in texting abbreviations are common; different sites show wide variations. We obviously need an Oxford Texting Abbreviations Dictionary.) With due respect to civility, grammar, and punctuation, these abbreviations can be handy when needing to type on an uncomfortable keyboard onto a tiny screen.

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