Age differences in the knowledge and usage of QR codes

  • Authors:
  • Jonathan Mendelson;Jennifer C. Romano Bergstrom

  • Affiliations:
  • Fors Marsh Group, Arlington, VA;Fors Marsh Group, Arlington, VA

  • Venue:
  • UAHCI'13 Proceedings of the 7th international conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction: user and context diversity - Volume 2
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

The adoption of a new technology is often affected by its perceived utility and ease of use, both of which could vary by age due to cognitive differences. A recently invented technology, the quick response (QR) code, enables smartphone users to access content on their mobile devices by scanning two-dimensional barcodes. In this paper, we examine awareness, knowledge, and usage of QR codes across different age groups in the United States, using a representative survey. Controlling for demographic characteristics, we find that older adults were only 13% as likely as younger adults to have used a QR code. We discuss survey results and implications for future research.