I had this idea, but I probably won't do it:

Say you're reading a post and it contains some URLs (links). You could hit a key, a list of URLs/links would appear like this:

1. mailto:user@domain
2. http://somelink.somedomain.com
3. http://someotherlink.somedomain.org

Selecting one of the options would display an auto-generated QR-code (in ex-ASCII/CP437 characters - full-screen, likely) so you could scan the code with your phone or tablet's camera and it'd go to that link (or email or whatever). Sound cool?

There's a lot of QR code libraries out there (C, JS, etc.) and it'd be easy to re-use or port (e.g. to JS) some existing library to perform the hard part(s) (error correction, etc.). Seems very doable, I'm just not sure that anyone would actually use it.

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #18:
DSZ = DOS Send ZMODEM (by Chuck Forsberg)
Norco, CA WX: 68.3øF, 39.0% humidity, 3 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

On 03/29/18, Digital Man pondered and said...

hard part(s) (error correction, etc.). Seems very doable, I'm just not sure that anyone would actually use it.

I think it's a cool idea but I'd question how widely used it would be. If the libs are about, give it a go :)

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A39 2018/03/26 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (3:770/100)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Mar 29 2018 19:52:06

Selecting one of the options would display an auto-generated QR-code (in ex-ASCII/CP437 characters - full-screen, likely) so you could scan the code with your phone or tablet's camera and it'd go to that link (or email or whatever). Sound cool?

Sounds like it would be fun to make. I don't think I would actually use it. I'd be reading messages on one device and then following links on another - seems a bit disjointed.

Say you're reading a post and it contains some URLs (links). You could hit a key, a list of URLs/links would appear like this:

1. mailto:user@domain
2. http://somelink.somedomain.com
3. http://someotherlink.somedomain.org

This reminds me of what (I think) Deuce did for the messages that get imported into the Ham Radio sub. I'm not sure if they come in via RSS or what, but all of the links in the message get colorized and tagged with a footnote number, and then at the very end of the message a numbered list of URLs is displayed. I wanted to add something similar to my RSS/Atom importer, but haven't gotten around to it. No QR codes there, but it's a nice format.

Would be great if it could be done on the fly when the message is displayed rather than altering the message from its original format. (These changes wouldn't be needed for messages viewed on the web or in an NNTP client, etc.)

Not sure if there are any scripting hooks that could be used along with the built-in message reader prompt, or if something like this would require a custom reader.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Digital Man wrote to All <=-

There's a lot of QR code libraries out there (C, JS, etc.) and it'd be easy to re-use or port (e.g. to JS) some existing library to perform
the hard part(s) (error correction, etc.). Seems very doable, I'm just
not sure that anyone would actually use it.

The only downside for me is it redirects browsing to the phone, while I prefer to usea computer. Also, I would need the support in my offline reader, not the BBS. But there is merit in the idea.


... Why's the man who invests all your money called a broker?
=== MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
--- SBBSecho 3.03-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Mar 29 2018 07:52 pm

Say you're reading a post and it contains some URLs (links). You could hit a key, a list of URLs/links would appear like this:

1. mailto:user@domain
2. http://somelink.somedomain.com
3. http://someotherlink.somedomain.org

Selecting one of the options would display an auto-generated QR-code (in ex-ASCII/CP437 characters - full-screen, likely) so you could scan the code with your phone or tablet's camera and it'd go to that link (or email or whatever). Sound cool?

hard part(s) (error correction, etc.). Seems very doable, I'm just not sure that anyone would actually use it.

Sounds interesting.. I tend to prefer using a BBS telnet interface on a laptop or a desktop though (a phone seems a bit small), and on a laptop/desktop, I'd be more likely to just copy & paste the URL and use a browser (or other appropriate app) to open the link.

However, this may be more useful on the web interface, which I think looks better on a small mobile device than the telnet interface.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: QR codes
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Fri Mar 30 2018 09:57 am

However, this may be more useful on the web interface, which I think looks better on a small mobile device than the telnet interface.

After I wrote that, I realized on the web interface it's already fairly easy to copy & paste a link and open it..

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Mar 29 2018 07:52 pm

hard part(s) (error correction, etc.). Seems very doable, I'm just not sure that anyone would actually use it.

I'd use it, I got some Atari Homebrew carts that display QR Codes after your game. You scan them and it posts your name and score to a website automatically. It's pretty slick and more accurate than sending in a polariod. (Code has a checksum deal I assume so the site knows it came from a legit scan)


... Anyone who can walk to the welfare office can walk to work.

---
þ Synchronet þ Shodan's Core @ ShodansCore.com

Re: QR codes
By: echicken to Digital Man on Thu Mar 29 2018 11:55 pm

Sounds like it would be fun to make. I don't think I would actually use it. I'd be reading messages on one device and then following links on another - seems a bit disjointed.

Add a QR decoder to SyncTerm? Ha.


... A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.

---
þ Synchronet þ Shodan's Core @ ShodansCore.com

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Tony Langdon to Digital Man on Fri Mar 30 2018 03:18 pm

The only downside for me is it redirects browsing to the phone, while I prefer to usea computer. Also, I would need the support in my offline reader, not the BBS. But there is merit in the idea.

Microsoft has an app that when you open a webpage on your phone it also opens it on a computer, though that seems like the long about way to get to your web link.

What else could we use QR codes for?


... I'm frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life.

---
þ Synchronet þ Shodan's Core @ ShodansCore.com

Re: QR codes
By: Android8675 to echicken on Fri Mar 30 2018 10:41 am

Add a QR decoder to SyncTerm? Ha.

I don't think that would really be needed.. You can copy links from SyncTerm and paste them in a web browser etc..

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Mar 29 2018 07:52 pm

There's a lot of QR code libraries out there (C, JS, etc.) and it'd be easy to re-use or port (e.g. to JS) some existing library to perform the hard part(s) (error correction, etc.). Seems very doable, I'm just not sure that anyone would actually use it.

it's nifty, but i dont think it would get used. i kinda find QR codes annoying. i only use a QR code when i absolutely have to, and there's no option of a url. ---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: QR codes
By: echicken to Digital Man on Thu Mar 29 2018 11:55 pm

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to All on Thu Mar 29 2018 19:52:06

Selecting one of the options would display an auto-generated QR-code (in ex-ASCII/CP437 characters - full-screen, likely) so you could scan the code with your phone or tablet's camera and it'd go to that link (or email or whatever). Sound cool?

Sounds like it would be fun to make. I don't think I would actually use it.

That's kind the boat I'm in. It would be neat to see this 80x24 "ANSIs" being interpretted by my phone/tablets camera - but I don't really want to transition to a smaller screen to follow a link in a message.

I'd be reading messages on one device and then following links on another - seems a bit disjointed.

Yup. There's a QR code on every page of wiki.synchro.net, but I've never used that feature myself. :-)

Say you're reading a post and it contains some URLs (links). You could hit a key, a list of URLs/links would appear like this:

1. mailto:user@domain
2. http://somelink.somedomain.com
3. http://someotherlink.somedomain.org

This reminds me of what (I think) Deuce did for the messages that get imported into the Ham Radio sub. I'm not sure if they come in via RSS or what, but all of the links in the message get colorized and tagged with a footnote number, and then at the very end of the message a numbered list of URLs is displayed. I wanted to add something similar to my RSS/Atom importer, but haven't gotten around to it. No QR codes there, but it's a nice format.

Would be great if it could be done on the fly when the message is displayed rather than altering the message from its original format. (These changes wouldn't be needed for messages viewed on the web or in an NNTP client, etc.)

Right, that's what I was thinking: on the fly. At minimum, a "mailto:" link for the message author's email address could be converted and displayed as a QR code. And maybe a link to the message reachable via http. And of course, if the message contains URLs, those too.

Not sure if there are any scripting hooks that could be used along with the built-in message reader prompt, or if something like this would require a custom reader.

I haven't tried to do any post-parsing via plug in. It *might* be possible without a custom reader, but I wouldn't know until I tried.

digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #4:
David St. Hubbins: He died in a bizarre gardening accident...
Norco, CA WX: 83.1øF, 34.0% humidity, 5 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: QR codes
By: Android8675 to echicken on Fri Mar 30 2018 10:41 am

Re: QR codes
By: echicken to Digital Man on Thu Mar 29 2018 11:55 pm

Sounds like it would be fun to make. I don't think I would actually use it. I'd be reading messages on one device and then following links on another - seems a bit disjointed.

Add a QR decoder to SyncTerm? Ha.

A QR generator in SyncTERM would make more sense. SyncTERM could be made to recognize URLs (http://*, mailto:*) in text a lot easier (and more efficiently) than a QR code. The entire purpose of QR code is optics (use of a camera or scanner). So unless you have a device handy with a camera or scanner, QR codes really don't serve a need.

To me, I just thought it'd be neat to see the full-screen dynamically-generated QR encoding of text. Apparently its been done before though, just not on a BBS (that I'm aware of).

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #24:
1584 Synchronet BBS Software registrations were sold between 1992 and 1996. Norco, CA WX: 82.5øF, 35.0% humidity, 13 mph NE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Android8675 to Tony Langdon on Fri Mar 30 2018 10:43 am

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Tony Langdon to Digital Man on Fri Mar 30 2018 03:18 pm

The only downside for me is it redirects browsing to the phone, while I prefer to usea computer. Also, I would need the support in my offline reader, not the BBS. But there is merit in the idea.

Microsoft has an app that when you open a webpage on your phone it also opens it on a computer, though that seems like the long about way to get to your web link.

What else could we use QR codes for?

2-factor authentication is another application: it's sometimes used to prove that the person logging has the phone associated with that account (and has the phone unlocked/authenticated).

digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #25:
Viv Savage: Have... a good... time... all the time. That's my philosophy. Norco, CA WX: 82.5øF, 35.0% humidity, 13 mph NE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to echicken on Fri Mar 30 2018 15:24:09

I haven't tried to do any post-parsing via plug in. It *might* be possible without a custom reader, but I wouldn't know until I tried.

I think you mentioned years ago that there was a facility for this kind of thing, but now I can't remember what it was. If you could point me in a general direction, I wouldn't mind taking a crack at it.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Android8675 wrote to Tony Langdon <=-

Microsoft has an app that when you open a webpage on your phone it also opens it on a computer, though that seems like the long about way to
get to your web link.

What else could we use QR codes for?

I get the impression any URL can be encoded, so a mailto: or a nntp:// or whatever. :)

... I'm frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for
life.

Me too. :(


... Brecht's Hierarchy of Needs: Grub first, then ethics.
=== MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
--- SBBSecho 3.03-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Nightfox wrote to Digital Man <=-

Re: QR codes
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Fri Mar 30 2018 09:57 am

However, this may be more useful on the web interface, which I think looks better on a small mobile device than the telnet interface.

After I wrote that, I realized on the web interface it's already fairly easy to copy & paste a link and open it..

And it wouldn't take too much to make URLs clickable in the web interface itself, as email clients do with URLs in plain text emails.

One area I do see QR codes being useful is if you've been on the PC and need a link on the phone for some reason, can save a lot of messing around.


... A straw vote only shows which way the hot air blows.
=== MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
--- SBBSecho 3.03-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to echicken on Fri Mar 30 2018 03:24 pm

Yup. There's a QR code on every page of wiki.synchro.net, but I've never used that feature myself. :-)

My first thought was why I'd need those QR codes on the wiki - To view the page I'm already viewing, but on my phone? But my phone also has options to share the link with someone, so I suppose there's some use there..

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Tony Langdon to Nightfox on Sat Mar 31 2018 09:47:00

And it wouldn't take too much to make URLs clickable in the web interface

I'm *pretty* sure my web UI already does that, but I'd have to go back and check. It's unlikely that the old/stock one does, but it would probably be easy for someone to add (for messages anyway) if they were so inclined.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Re: QR codes
By: echicken to Digital Man on Fri Mar 30 2018 07:03 pm

Re: QR codes
By: Digital Man to echicken on Fri Mar 30 2018 15:24:09

I haven't tried to do any post-parsing via plug in. It *might* be possible without a custom reader, but I wouldn't know until I tried.

I think you mentioned years ago that there was a facility for this kind of thing, but now I can't remember what it was. If you could point me in a general direction, I wouldn't mind taking a crack at it.

Probably similar to how I implemented Avatar support for v3.16: In that case, I used @EXEC in text/menu/msghdr.asc to load a JS script (see exec/showmsgavatar.js). A QR code mod could read the message text (bbs.msg_number from bbs.smb_sub_code) and parse out URLs and such and use the msg header fields (bbs.msg_from and bbs.msg_from_net) to generate a QR code for the author's mailto URI. This would be executed/displayed *before* the message body text however. To display *after* (if that was desireable) instead, then a modification of the "ReadingSub" text.dat line could be used to execute a script there instead.

digital man

This Is Spinal Tap quote #14:
The Boston gig has been cancelled. [Don't] worry, it's not a big college town. Norco, CA WX: 78.9øF, 41.0% humidity, 12 mph NE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: QR codes
By: Nightfox to Android8675 on Fri Mar 30 2018 12:33:32

I don't think that would really be needed.. You can copy links from SyncTerm and paste them in a web browser etc..

I'm using Syncterm for MacOS at the moment and I don't seem to be able to copy and paste anything anywhere?


Its V 1.0 is that the latest I wonder? Hmm

Regards..Geo
ooooOOOOoooo

---
þ Synchronet þ The Dungeon BBS - Risen from the Ashes! - Canberra, Australia. http://bbs.barnab

Re: QR codes
By: Geo to Nightfox on Sat Mar 31 2018 11:46 pm

I'm using Syncterm for MacOS at the moment and I don't seem to be able to copy and paste anything anywhere?

Its V 1.0 is that the latest I wonder? Hmm

I've seen other people report the same issue with the Mac SyncTerm. I don't remember if that has been fixed with later versions.. I use the Windows version and it's able to copy & paste.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

On Sunday April 01, 2018, Nightfox said to Geo...

I'm using Syncterm for MacOS at the moment and I don't seem to be able
to

copy and paste anything anywhere?

Its V 1.0 is that the latest I wonder? Hmm

I've seen other people report the same issue with the Mac SyncTerm. I don't

remember if that has been fixed with later versions.. I use the Windows

I'm not sure about copying on the OS X version, but you can paste to it by right clicking, that pastes in whatever is in the clipboard.

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo


--- Zeus BBS 1.5
* Origin: hysteria bbs - hysteriabbs.com - amiga powered (1:229/100.0)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Netsurge to Nightfox on Sun Apr 01 2018 22:21:27

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo

wat?

April fools?

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Re: QR codes
By: Nightfox to Geo on Sun Apr 01 2018 16:25:37

Re: QR codes
By: Geo to Nightfox on Sat Mar 31 2018 11:46 pm

I'm using Syncterm for MacOS at the moment and I don't seem to be able to copy and paste anything anywhere?

Its V 1.0 is that the latest I wonder? Hmm

I've seen other people report the same issue with the Mac SyncTerm. I don't remember if that has been fixed with later versions.. I use the Windows version and it's able to copy & paste.

Nightfox

The MAC OS X one is very old, its SDL and dated 2015.
It says it is V1.0

I did see a reference to a V1.0.0b download on another site that required me to join up to dld. So I wasn't about to fall for that old chestnut.!!

8-)


Regards..Geo
ooooOOOOoooo

---
þ Synchronet þ The Dungeon BBS - Risen from the Ashes! - Canberra, Australia. http://bbs.barnab

On Monday April 02, 2018, Echicken said to Netsurge...

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo

wat?

April fools?

not quite, lol

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo


--- Zeus BBS 1.5
* Origin: hysteria bbs - hysteriabbs.com - amiga powered (1:229/100.0)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Netsurge to Nightfox on Sun Apr 01 2018 22:21:27

I'm not sure about copying on the OS X version, but you can paste to it by right clicking, that pastes in whatever is in the clipboard.

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo

Ohhhh wow thanks Frank, I hadn't realised that. Working on a Macbook Pro I don't have a right button by default. but I just tried it and Yay!!!


Regards..Geo
ooooOOOOoooo

---
þ Synchronet þ The Dungeon BBS - Risen from the Ashes! - Canberra, Australia. http://bbs.barnab

Re: Re: QR codes
By: echicken to Netsurge on Mon Apr 02 2018 12:27 am

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Netsurge to Nightfox on Sun Apr 01 2018 22:21:27

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo

wat?

will set you up on scinet this weekend bro
---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

On Monday April 02, 2018, Geo said to Netsurge...

Ohhhh wow thanks Frank, I hadn't realised that. Working on a Macbook Pro
I

don't have a right button by default. but I just tried it and Yay!!!

Two finger tap on your trackpad will give you a right click, I'm on a
macbook pro right now.

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo


--- Zeus BBS 1.5
* Origin: hysteria - amiga 4ooo - hysteriabbs.com (1:229/100.0)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

On Monday April 02, 2018, Mro said to echicken...

will set you up on scinet this weekend bro

Bahaha.

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo


--- Zeus BBS 1.5
* Origin: hysteria - amiga 4ooo - hysteriabbs.com (1:229/100.0)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: QR codes
By: Netsurge to Geo on Mon Apr 02 2018 17:41:40

On Monday April 02, 2018, Geo said to Netsurge...

Ohhhh wow thanks Frank, I hadn't realised that. Working on a Macbook Pro I

don't have a right button by default. but I just tried it and Yay!!!

Two finger tap on your trackpad will give you a right click, I'm on a macbook pro right now.

frank!netsurge ! hysteriabbs.com ! zeus 1.7 ! amiga 4ooo

8-)

Regards..Geo
ooooOOOOoooo

---
þ Synchronet þ The Dungeon BBS - Risen from the Ashes! - Canberra, Australia. http://bbs.barnab

Re: QR codes
By: Nightfox to Android8675 on Fri Mar 30 2018 12:33 pm

Add a QR decoder to SyncTerm? Ha.

I don't think that would really be needed.. You can copy links from SyncTerm and paste them in a web browser etc..

Too much work!


... Tolkien is hobbit-forming.

---
þ Synchronet þ Shodan's Core @ ShodansCore.com

Android8675 wrote to Nightfox <=-

Re: QR codes
By: Nightfox to Android8675 on Fri Mar 30 2018 12:33 pm

Add a QR decoder to SyncTerm? Ha.

I don't think that would really be needed.. You can copy links from SyncTerm and paste them in a web browser etc..

Too much work!

A better solution for SyncTerm would be to make URLs clickable, or have a feature to go to the link. QR codes would only be useful if you wanted to follow the link on your phone or tablet (which has its uses too).


... PCDOS&MSDOS&CP/M&WINDOWSI'LLFIDDLEWITHOS/2WOULDN'TYOU
=== MultiMail/Win32 v0.49
--- SBBSecho 3.03-Linux
* Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net