Internet and Crossword

QR codes

I KNOWwe have talked about QR codes before, but I’ve recently discovered another use for them, which I think is … useful. When someone comes to your house, they might want to use your wifi, which normally involves getting it from the back of the router (or indeed having to turn your head to an unnatural degree to be able to read the back of it!) But if you are very efficient, you may have saved the card that came with it, and so can use that. Which still involves upper and lower case, numbers etc, which takes a time, because you have to get it right.

However, there should be a QR code there, so just use your phone or tablet to scan the code, and Bob’s your Uncle, as they say.

No doubt we have all seen the QR codes at entrances to shops, pubs, etc. So scanning with your NHS Covid app will save time and help the country to keep track of the virus.

There are lots of sites which offer a QR code generator, where you can put all sorts of information for anyone to access quickly and easily. Web addresses are the most obvious, but there are all sorts of things. If you want to be able to share your phone number with friends, you could generate one and put it on your own phone, then friends can just scan in and off you go.

Or email addresses would work well too – phone numbers and email addresses are very specific of course, so being able to do it quickly and know it is right, is very useful.

If you are doing any fundraising, then creating a QR to access a JustGiving.com page, for example, which could generate a little extra income, especially as people tend to carry less cash now.

Plants at Garden Centres often have a QR code with them, so you can scan in and find lots of info about the size, planting etc.

Some restaurants (maybe mostly big cities I suspect) are using QR codes for people to access their menu, or pay with their phone etc. And so many places these days have a longing to be “liked” that many are using a QR code to direct you quickly to their Facebook page for instant response. Or even Twitter.

Submitted for I.T. for the Terrified by Lynne Duckett. Although we have ceased our one to one tuition, a number of us will continue with this column under the heading “I.T. for the Terrified" to keep the name alive. This article is for guidance only, and the opinion of the writer. I.T. for the Terrified itfortheterrified@btconnect.com or it4ttcvh@gmail.com

The Mendip Mindbender

ACROSS

1 Units of currency in Saudi

Arabia (6) 5 Separate article or proviso in a contract (6) 10 Part of a deceased holy person kept as an object of reverence (5) 11 American illicitly distilled spirit (9) 12 In this village in 878 a peace treaty was signed by Alfred the Great and Guthrum the

Dane (7) 13 Long sleeved woollen garment (7) 14 Recurring theme in a musical composition (9) 17 Small radio device that notifies the owner someone is trying to contact them (5) 18 Wide open space like

Salisbury’s (5) 19 Sprite does not start to cover value of being fit to fly (9) 21 Place or means of access (7) 23 The isolated tower on top of

Glastonbury Tor is the remains of a church. To which saint was it dedicated? (7) 25 Reference book particularly register or catalogue (9) 26 An Inuit’s house (5) 27 Ski in a winding path avoiding obstacles (6) 28 Chooses without a start but still chooses (6)

DOWN

2 Stood around doing nothing (5) 3 The final runner in a relay race (9) 4 River of Northern France. Its upper basin was the scene of heavy fighting in the first world war (5) 5 Change political affiliation in the House of Commons (9) 6 Passageway in church or supermarket (5) 7 Description of clothing that hugs the body (9) 8 Gardening hand tool (6) 9 Person inside clothes (6) 15 Marking the beginning of an activity or maybe someone taking office (9) 16 Change completely, metamorphose (9) 17 Forbid, especially by law (9) 18 Somerset’s highest village above sea level (6) 20 A primary colour (6) 22 Where in windows one would find spreadsheets (5) 23 Not for certain! (5) 24 That hard bit on the end of a shoelace (5)

Clues in italics are cryptic

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