Talking to QR codes
Let’s admit it : QR Codes are depressing
All it takes to start a business today is just a QR code, and it’s the basis of many restaurants and cafes. They don’t even look at you and smile anymore, they just ask you to scan the QR codes.
This flawed yet efficient relationship is a bigger pandemic for the past couple of years. The fatigue of QR codes comes with many killed conversations.
When was the last time you went to a cafe that tried to have a proper conversation?
All it goes with is just the menu, service and payment is all done in the black looking alien QR code. I think it is the absolute killer of people and relationships.
I remember many people saying that Asia is a powerhouse of relationships and business, and the repetition of building this relationship is now replaced with a square box.
I think many of this reasons are why many Singaporeans prefer to explore Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia where they take pride of their individually ran coffee chains – instead of the chain and group owned where they have to report a profit every quarter.
Finding humanity
In Taiwan, at my hometown of Taichung/Wuri: the coffee shops come with no operational hours and it’s a Russian roulette of chance whether it is open or closed. Before you ask about the menus they are pretty much labels of what they can get from coffee in small batches, so you’re always in for a treat as they do not buy in the bulk and the menu pretty much changes every 2 hours. Also the operating hours is very flaky, they can tell you that they are open at 10am today and 12pm tomorrow and when asked why they just smile.. still waiting for the answer from them since 2020. Ignorance is bliss.
Take note this pictures are taken before Covid circa 2020, but the experience on Google shows it never aged, which is something to celebrate.
Coffee shop in Taiwan Taichung: where the menu is always changing with hand written notes about coffee and their taste profile and textures.
If you want to check out, 楽珈 coffee roaster :: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZLLsCub8dNhwEiJA7?g_st=ic
The taste notes and blends of coffee which is ever changing based on storage dates, time and also temperature of roast. It changes often so every coffee texture and flavour is a surprise.
Beggars now also accept QR code (China, right) and a convenience store in India accepting PayTM and UPI (left)
This is bigger than life; for many places payment by QR code is a necessity. In China we have WeChat & AliPay, in Thailand we have Promptpay, in India we have UPI, in Singapore we have Grabpay & Paylah, and the only places I see that really resisted this is in Europe. Although it is getting more popular.
Now here’s something interesting about QR codes: while it can be terribly difficult to have a conversation about it. It can also be a medium to capture art.
From the Olivier Tops, Megeve Art Gallery in north of France: an interactive art exhibition about QR codes of shows from the 80s/90s of French films and TV.
Just like the juice store at the back of my gym at Beauty World Centre, Singapore, they hide the QR codes unless asked about payment – and they try to ask you how’s your day before serving you.
I like the approach which makes it very humane. Finally, I do not feel like Wall E in modern Singapore.
