NHS Covid 19 App
- Thread starter TopCat
- Start date
Thought this might be of interest -- basically why the QR codes are..rubbish...
www.revk.uk
How not to QR (NHS COVID-19 App)
There is now law requiring (from 24th Sep) a QR code to be displayed in various premises so people can scan it in to the NHS COVID-19 App. S...
LDC
On est tous des pangolins
No, it's there on purpose, not a flaw. Your opinion as to whether or not it's a good idea or not might differ to the developers, but it's not a design flaw.
Nivag
Well-Known Member
Using the app to give details has got to be better than using a shared pen and paper that some places are offering to leave contact details. Plus the fact you don't have to leave a phone number/email with places that could abuse such information and either sell that info on or contact you without your permission.
emanymton
A cat politely sat on the flaming gardener.
Have we had a proper explanation for why this is happening?
I'm guessing it is because there are basically 2 alerts for different levels of exposure. One for very low risk which is what is popping up and one for higher risk when you need to self isolate.
Cid
Proper break this time
Yeah there was that case not long ago of a tour bus conductor sending messages to a female passenger. It just is not safe or secure.
Cid
Proper break this time
I think that’s probably the case. What is absolutely baffling is why it wasn’t just presented as a feature. It would not be hard to have a two page basic intro thing on signing up.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
It is a flaw if it wakes people up in the middle of the night telling them they’ve been potential exposed when they haven’t, needlessly causing anxiety and stress
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Think it’s the other way round, people falsely self-isolating unnecessarily.
Chilli.s
mingling jets and statuettes
So... poor design? The app has to be used by everybody not just tech savvy.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I massively prefer the checkin functionality to having someone come round with a little book that loads of people have just written in, with a pen everyone's held, frankly.
muscovyduck
Good IT skills and food hygiene competent
Yeah it's one of those things innit it's confusing because everything else about the last year has been the same style of confusing and you don't have the space to sit down and figure it out anymore
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I think this "oh it's Apple/Google's fault" stuff is rubbish - the COVID api might be sending notifications that it's processing to the app (it could be useful for some reason) but it is the app's decision to send notifications to the user. No other app using the same api seems to have this issue.
souljacker
innit
Thought this might be of interest -- basically why the QR codes are..rubbish...
How not to QR (NHS COVID-19 App)
There is now law requiring (from 24th Sep) a QR code to be displayed in various premises so people can scan it in to the NHS COVID-19 App. S...
At lot of what that chap is saying is bollocks, mainly because it's from almost a month ago.
So a month ago it wasn't bollocks but it now is because the underlying issues have been fixed?
souljacker
innit
Cid
Proper break this time
Yeah it’s not exactly surprising that the app didn’t show up before it was officially released. I did notice that the qr posters are fucking massive in comparison to what you scan for e.g wechat payments. But yeah I’ve had no problems using it. Though I am very used to qr codes from time in China.
mwgdrwg
Be a Pisces. Jam.
Up here the people that work at an establishment write down the names and numbers of customers, thus avoiding that problem altogether.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Well, scanning a QR code also avoids that problem altogether. Plus the other ones of handing one's personal details over to an uncontrolled repository.
Cid
Proper break this time
Up here? What, all the establishments in ‘up here’? Nice that you’re happy to provide your details to random, completely unsecured establishments though.
mwgdrwg
Be a Pisces. Jam.
Obviously speaking from an in-depth understanding of it.
I'm actually a developer of over 20 years with quite a bit of understanding of the app. But that has nothing to do with my objection to the principle of having to check in somewhere with a smartphone to access it. Fuck that, forever.
Cid
Proper break this time
But happy to actually give them your details?
mwgdrwg
Be a Pisces. Jam.
If you want to do it fine, that is your choice. But don't force people to do it (as many places already are, unfortunately).
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I'm not forcing anyone. And neither of the two places I have been are, either. And, I guess, if other places do choose to oblige people to use the QR code checkin, then they won't be that surprised if people who won't - or can't - take their business elsewhere.
This seems to me to be a non-problem.
What, specifically, is your issue with the QR code thing?
mwgdrwg
Be a Pisces. Jam.
My issue is that some places are beginning to only let you enter or book appointments if you l check in with the app. Not sure how I can make this clearer to you.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I suppose my "confusion" is around the fact that, like any other thing a business does, it's up to the individual customer whether they want to co-operate or not. All (two) of the businesses I've visited have had the QR posters up, and someone with a book, so from my point of view, your difficulty is a non-issue.
If they didn't have the QR posters up, and just the book, I'd probably still go, just the same. But if either of them said "you have to use the QR code/book", I might find myself in the position of making a decision whether or not to go in. Not sure how I can make this clearer to you.
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