This week a woman on an online senior discussion group I frequent asked about QR (quick response) codes. She was at a restaurant that asks patrons to use a QR code to open and read its menu on their smartphone or tablet.

If you didn’t already know many restaurateurs are adapting QR codes that link to their online menus. Printed menus are being eliminated to save expenses by many restaurants and also as a safety factor since COVID.

A QR code is a type of barcode that contains coded information on it. It can identify a product or is an actual link to an online document, app or website page. (That’s why I advise caution in using a QR code from an unreliable source.)

A barcode is an optical label we have all seen on food and other items we purchase. It has dark vertical lines of varying thickness, white spaces between the lines and even numbers. When read by a scanner they reveal a product identity, ingredients, even price, etc.

Unlike a barcode, a QR code has black squares and rectangles arranged in a grid. It is usually shown on a white background but can also be displayed on a colored background. It may also have supplemental letters, numbers or symbols.

You can use your smartphone or tablet to read the QR code and link you to a restaurant’s menu in this instance. Note: You do need internet access via WiFi or data to use this feature.

Every Android smartphone usually comes with a Google search bar (see above) or you can install it yourself from the ‘Widgets’. An icon that looks like a camera is visible to the far left of the bar (arrow). Tap it to open Google Lens which is a marvelous app that can be downloaded from the Google Play store itself.

When Google Lens opens, make sure you select the “Search” function near the bottom of the screen. You may have to swipe to find it.

Frame the QR code within the arched corners on your screen. When your phone reads the code a URL (address) will be displayed and this message will appear: “Tap shutter button to open website”. If you trust the source you can tap the shutter button (magnifying glass) and open the page (and read the menu!).

Interested in joining us on our next Waci Monday at Senior Planet from AARP? Details on our Calendar page:https://abncparties.com/calendar/. We’re using the holiday link for the next three weeks during the Senior Planet break.

Learn more about our classes and events for Boomers and senior adults for your senior center, independent senior living facility, senior group, park district or library.

You may Contact us for individual training as well.

Michael