You may think their time has passed, but what if QR Codes were less ugly and more useful?
Designer Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino set out to improve this troubled medium with Mapcodes, a hyper-linking system that uses fragments of maps — instead of indecipherable blocks — to link to full maps.
Although still in prototype/idea territory, it’s refreshing to see more user-friendly (and beautiful) graphic languages being developed for connecting digital content to physical locations.
It doesn’t seem like this would be that relaxing of a reading experience, but it’s cool that the technology helps achieve the work’s original intention to be read non-linearly.
Keiichi Matsuda imagines what it would be like when digital layers of information converge with the physical environment – no device required. (Best viewed in 3D if you have 3D glasses handy)
From wallets that help your spending to hula girls that tweet from your carshare, the work of concept artist John Kestner — who uses APIs to “teach” objects how to react to our everyday lives — could be amazing inspiration for DOOH work.
