qr code
Textbooks are boring. There is too much text, few pictures and back in our school days you had to accept whatever was in the textbook and struggle through it. It was an uphill battle…both ways! But with all the advancements and conveniences of technology, why not bring a little of the 21st century into the classroom?
Textbooks around Japan have been incrementally upping their game with QR codes, “hip” songs and whatever else to keep students entertained and excited about learning. But sometimes these advances in textbook technology don’t provide any benefit, and actually confuse more than they teach.
QR codes, with their seemingly arbitrary jumble of black and white squares, are popping up on all sorts of packaging and advertisements, allowing consumers to quickly and easily access a specific website on their smartphone. As common as they have become, we’ve never seen a QR code completely hand drawn on a chalkboard, but here we have one, carefully created by a student in Japan. The best part? The website it leads to is just as random as the decision to recreate a QR code using chalk.
At first glance, this tech news report seems to be telling us of an intriguing augmented reality app that’s scary good. When you point your camera at an object, it can automatically read your mind about what you’ll want to do next on the internet with respect to that object, like get a coupon for it or research about it on Wikipedia. Which would bring to mind various questions, such as, is it like auto-fill/auto-complete, remembering what you or others have done before, taken a few steps further? Is it selectively taking you to a website that’s ultimately aiming to get your money? Is it inviting you to give up your free will and just be satisfied with the website it saw fit to jump you to? How does it know what you want to do? Read More
MOST POPULAR
Now
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Sanrio’s best-loved butthole defies physics in adorable sumo collaboration[Photos]
New “Submariner Camera” is ready to get up close and personal with your pet fish
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Yoshinoya invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day
Japanese manhole covers become a hit with foreign tourists in off-the-beaten path Tokyo area
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Weekly
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Monthly
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events- Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]- Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
RECOMMENDED STORIES
New “Submariner Camera” is ready to get up close and personal with your pet fish
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Yoshinoya invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day
Japanese manhole covers become a hit with foreign tourists in off-the-beaten path Tokyo area
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Kim Kardashian trademarks the word kimono, gets slammed by people in Japan
Police in Japan warn of scam artists posing as cops to collect fines for breaking new bike rules
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Soaking in glimmering water and the essence of prehistoric plants at a Hokkaido hot spring
What’s it like to watch a sumo tournament in Tokyo during the pandemic?
Japan’s famous Crunky chocolate becomes chewing gum…and it has the weirdest taste and texture
Onsen hot spring with Mt Fuji views has one of the best rotenburo in Japan
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
Jeopardy’s Pokémon category is freakishly easy, poses no threat to true fans【Video】
-
