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Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

(slate.com)
527 points lxm | 4 comments | 29 Jun 21 03:25 UTC | HN request time: 0.738s | source
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NamTaf ◴[29 Jun 21 06:03 UTC] No.27672359[source]▶
I understand the benefits of phyiscal menus, but I for one relied on QR codes when working in China. I could go into a restaurant alone and use screenshots + google translate to essentially feed myself. Without a QR code, it was a gamble as to whether there were photos for me to see to order. Moreover, I didn't have to assume the waiter knew English, they'd just ferry out my food to my table when it was ready. I relied on this multiple times whilst there.

There's certainly benefits to both, and offering both makes sense to me. As with all things, a few options tends to be good.

replies(1): >>27673568 #
1. HelloNurse ◴[29 Jun 21 09:15 UTC] No.27673568[source]▶
Google Translate has been using OCR to replace foreign text in live camera input for several years. Didn't it work on Chinese printed menus?
replies(2): >>27673795 #>>27674145 #
2. nly ◴[29 Jun 21 09:49 UTC] No.27673795[source]▶
When I was last in China (I've been last twice in the last 5 years) I still couldn't even get data on my phone. Does GT work well offline?
replies(1): >>27673984 #
3. squiggleblaz ◴[29 Jun 21 10:27 UTC] No.27673984[source]▶
If you can't get data on your phone, how does a QR code link help you out? It seems you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
4. NamTaf ◴[29 Jun 21 10:55 UTC] No.27674145[source]▶
Yeh, I could photograph and use OCR on the menu, but it's not as reliable because of the varying quality of the printed menu text. A second thing was realising that the realtime OCR wasn't as good as an image and then scanning afterwards.

However, that still doesn't address the issue of having to communicate! I guess I also found QR Code menus to generally have more pics than printed ones, so it covered off both of those issues.

I should add that the QR codes were not just the menu, but also your table so when you placed an order through Wechat it knew what table you were at so they'd literally just bring it over when it's ready.