Get organized with the new ‘Scan QR’ feature on Envision Glasses

QR codes have been around for a long time (fun fact: they were invented in 1992 in Japan). They are hugely popular for good reasons. Their ability to provide easy access to information sources, such as websites and text descriptions, creates almost limitless possibilities to use them to make our everyday lives that little bit easier and more organized!

Access the Scan QR feature

The good news is that a QR code scanning feature has been included in the latest software update (1.8.0) of the Envision Glasses, and it is really easy to use. 

1. Navigate to the ‘Identify’ function in the main menu. 
2. Make a single tap to open ‘Identify’ and then swipe to the 4th feature - ‘Scan QR’ 
3. You can also simply give a voice command -  “Scan QR” and the feature will open.
4. There is also a ‘Scan QR’ tutorial in the ‘Help’ function on your Envision Glasses. 

Note: Scanning QR codes that contain a URL will not provide the contents of the associated webpage. Instead, the QR code scan will provide you with solely the URL, which you can then use to manually access the webpage for information on another device.

Create your own QR codes

While most QR codes we encounter contain a link to a website, it is also possible to create your own QR codes which contain text, stick them to objects and create easy-to-read labels. This is ideal for everything from organizing your kitchen cabinets to labeling rooms at home or work.

Here are seven simple steps for creating your own QR codes.

[Update March 2023]

As of March 2023, we suggest using the website https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/#url as a QR code generator as it is more screenreader-friendly than the website given below. You can still follow the same steps as given below.

Step 1: Go to a website that allows you to generate a QR code. If you search on Google for “QR code generator” you will find a few (free and paid) options. In this guide, we will be using https://goqr.me/ as it’s a free service and is also somewhat accessible with a screen reader.

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Step 2: Once you are on goqr.me, by default the ‘Text’ option should be selected. If that is not the case, make sure you select the option ‘Text’.

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Step 3: Navigate towards the text input. When using a screen reader, you can swipe right until you hear ‘2. Contents’ and afterward you will be able to double-tap on the text field.

Step 4: Type anything that you want to be represented by the QR code. In our case, we have a box of protein powder that we have been reusing and now has ‘Organic Black Tea’ in it instead. So in this case, we type ‘Organic Black Tea’ in the text field.

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Step 5: On this website, the QR code is changed automatically. On some websites you might need to click on ‘Generate QR’ and your QR code will be ready to be used. At this point, you can already scan the QR code on the screen with your Envision Glasses and it should say “Organic Black Tea”.

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Step 6: Now that your QR code is created, tap on the ‘Download’ button to save the QR Code (you can save it in JPG or PNG image format). These images can now be printed and stuck on the things you would like to recognize with them.

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Step 7: Now open the ‘Scan QR’ function by navigating to it under the ‘Identify’ category or by simply using Voice Commands. Just look towards where the QR code is placed and it would instantly speak the text within it out to you.

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That is how easy it is to create a QR code yourself and use the new QR Code scanner on the Envision Glasses. Some popular examples of how it can be used are:

At home:

• To label your spices and other cooking materials.
• To label your clothes and other accessories.
• To capture instructions for using the coffee machine.
• To locate your house or apartment.

At work/school:

• To identify specific rooms and offices.
• To get information about the floors in an elevator.
• To know the content of a vending machine.
• To locate toilets and exits.

The opportunities are endless! 

Share your experiences of using the  ‘Scan QR’ function on your Envision Glasses with the Envision Community on Facebook, Twitter, or Telegram.