To assess how preview overlays enhance real-world QR interactions, I created three distinct scenarios that reflect different user needs, risk levels, and decision-making contexts. Each scenario illustrates how a preview step transforms the traditional “scan and immediately open” model into a more informed, user-controlled interaction.
The preview overlay allows for quick verification of menu QR codes in both social and professional settings. Users can confirm that the destination is a legitimate restaurant menu by checking for a verified badge, the content type, and the last updated timestamp before deciding to open it. The preview offers sufficient context, including the restaurant name, file type (PDF), and verification status, enabling users to make an informed decision in just 2-3 seconds. This feature prevents interruptions to conversations or workflows. It also addresses the growing problem of scam QR codes that redirect users to phishing sites, while still delivering the speed customers expect during casual dining experiences.
This approach allows users to evaluate event information and ticket sources before being redirected to a webpage. The preview overlay displays essential details, including the event name, date, venue, verified ticketing platform, and price range. This simple process reassures users that they can easily make informed decisions: they can either purchase tickets from a verified source, save the event to their calendar for later comparison, or dismiss the event if they are not interested. This transformation of promotional QR codes shifts the process from immediate commitment to informed choice, helping users avoid unreliable resellers while allowing them to bookmark events without opening multiple browser tabs or losing track of important information.
The preview overlay optimizes high-frequency scanning workflows for delivery drivers who handle a large volume of packages each shift. The system presents critical information such as delivery address, recipient name, special handling instructions, and package status in a glanceable format, reducing load times by 5-10 seconds per scan. This allows drivers to quickly verify the correct package and instructions, only accessing full details when exceptions arise. As a result, daily scan times are reduced, enabling drivers to complete their routes more quickly while maintaining accuracy and minimizing physical strain from handling devices.
Each workflow illustrates how a simple preview step transforms QR scanning from blind trust into an informed choice.
https://whimsical.com/clean-dotqr-user-flows-2gt35yh7rSi951FaGumARF@or4CdLRbgiyKQjuZ2UWwun1LWniw42Um8xJMQzwwY