On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 9:46 AM, Soulliere, Robert <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi All, > > At Mohawk College, we implemented QR codes in our catalogue for mobile > barcode scanners. > > This question came up recently on the list with Joseph Lewis bringing up the > possibilities: > http://libmail.georgialibraries.org/pipermail/open-ils-general/2011-June/005014.html > > For an example of our implementation see: > http://libcat.mohawkcollege.ca/opac/en-CA/skin/default/xml/rdetail.xml?r=36984&t=linux&tp=keyword&d=0&hc=22&rt=keyword > > This allows users with cell phones to scan the QR code and load copy location > information to their mobile device (with barcode scanner). It does not > require phone service on the device -- just open your barcode scanner app, > point your devices camera and scan the code. >
Very cool. Solid work! > Our implementation used the Google charts api to generate the codes on the > fly on a Google server. In other words, we are not storing those images on > our server or creating code images for each item copy location. > > For changesets to the code (Evergreen 2.0.6): > http://libdog.mohawkcollege.ca/projects/evergreen/changeset/109 > > For more info on QR codes: > http://brain.mohawkcollege.ca/QRCodes > > I am willing to provide a patch to the code base but had a concern about > whether it can be easily adapted to the future templated opac? > I wasn't sure about which version of Evergreen this would be implemented if > it was added and I was not sure about the OPAC template switch time line. > Thomas mentioned perhaps not farming out to Google, but I don't have a strong opinion on that point. We already have Google Preview, so there's precedent. Of course, it would be best to point to a generic source of information on QR Codes, rather than everyone pummeling your server, but that's simple enough. As for which OPAC to implement this in, I don't think it actually matters too much. Because the will be server-generated images in either case, the hard part (if we internalize it and generate QRs on the Evergreen server) will be the same either way. > The feature does have a on/off toggle in the code. > I wonder if we should use an OU setting or such to turn on or off the inclusion of the images. [Related: having a memcache cache of OU settings would make this less painful, and I think could be done in such a way that updating any OU setting would clear the per-OU cache entries properly by clearing the entries for self and all descendants (to cover inherited settings). Thoughts?] > Let me know if you recommend that I submit a patch in Launchpad. > I think that would be worthwhile, if for no other reason than to keep this on the radar and instigate discussion. -- Mike Rylander | Director of Research and Development | Equinox Software, Inc. / Your Library's Guide to Open Source | phone: 1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457) | email: [email protected] | web: http://www.esilibrary.com
