QR Codes for Logging Caches
As mentioned previously here, a new type of treasure hunting game using smartphones has emerged: Munzee’s. Using a smartphone such as a Blackberry, iPhone or Android device, users can seek out a Munzee which is nothing more than a QR code bar code that you scan using the Munzee app. This then logs that Munzee as found on your account. No physical container, just the bar code.
It got me to thinking about how this could be combined with geocaching. One idea that sprang to mind is the ability to include QR codes in your existing caches that when scanned, take you to the log page for that specific cache.
If you have a smart phone, scan the QR code found on this news item and you’ll see that it automatically brings you to the “Log” page for my Through The Airwaves cache. You then only need to fill in the type of log, and the log itself, and submit it and it is now logged. If this barcode was actually included in the physical geocache, when a finder opened the container, they could scan the barcode and do their log right there.
It’s obviously not something everyone would do, but it is an interesting way to incorporate some of this newer technology into our existing caches. In moving forward, I may actually include QR codes with the log URL for my caches. If I could figure out a way to pre-populate the actual log information, I’d include something like “Quick logged using the QR code found in the container. TFTC”, then I’d know if they actually got used by anyone.
Not something for everyone, but definitely an interesting way to add another layer to our caches.
I wish this QR code could open the GC app on my Iphone instead of the webpage. Any idea if this is possible??
I know on my iPad I get prompted whether I want to open cache listings in the app or in Safari. Not sure why I don’t get the same prompt on my iPhone
http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=qr&chs=300×300&chl=gcapp%3A//GC2MWBC&chld=H|0
this above qr will open it within the gcapp
to open a specific gc code within the app just put gcapp://[gccode] into your safari app there is a way to prepopulate a form through the url but the exact code escapes me now.
I had mentioned this before as well, it would be cool if it could be set up to automatically log a cache as a find and you could type the log right there or go home and edit it later. It would be a good addition to the app, even though I have the app I don’t use it on my android as C:geo is miles ahead of it.
Bitcaching.com already does that.
Oc goes further and now owners can generate a QR code that can be scanned by a Handheld GPS with camera (Oregon 550/Montana) and/or a code that can be entered in the GPS when logging a find. This will give a “verified Found” stamp on the online log.