Create a Poster
When creating a poster, a user will need to generate the QR code to add to the poster.
The user is the poster creator - a graphic designer - who is using a desktop/laptop computer. The user is likely to have have a large screen and/or multiple monitors. A poster creator has relatively more time to create a QR code, and is interested in creating a code to match the poster. A user may go through several iterations of QR codes to match the design of the poster.
Users of the system could range between casual poster creators and professional graphic designers. Users will likely have to use the system without training. However, in large graphic design shops, the user might have been trained in the system. Professional graphic designers may be frequent user of a system, and thus require efficiency.
The code could need to be changed after the initial design of the poster. For example, a client may want to change the color scheme of a poster. The user would then need to go back into the system to generate a new code.
Add event to calendar
Users who scan QR codes off posters are in a very different situation. A typical user is walking down the corridor when a poster catches their eye. They have only a few seconds to enter the information or else they will be late to their destination.
Users will need a smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc) with a "barcode scanner" application. Multiple barcode scanner apps exist on the market.
Once a user scans a QR code they can continue to walk down the hallway while completing the rest of the steps on their phone. The interface should therefore be very simple and very efficient.
Users will not receive any formal training. Some words could be placed on a poster, but most poster creators would not want to put voluminous instructions on their posters. The system must therefore be easily learnable.
One thing which we discovered was that a user must be educated that more information/interactive features is behind the QR code. Users have learned that in many cases the QR codes are not useful. Users need to somehow know that the code allows them to add the item to calendar.
View RSVPs
Many event organizers will wish to review the RSVPs for a particular event. The uses might be the same as the graphic designers, or they may be other users. These users may be using a desktop/laptop or smartphone. A user may use a desktop several days before an event, but a smartphone the day of the event.
The people viewing RSVPs might have received formal instruction in the system, but they probably have not. Since the users might not have been the ones who initially created the barcode, we can not rely on the learning from the other part of the system.
If the person is viewing RSVPs on their smartphone the day of the event, the user may only have a few seconds to see the count of the event. On the other hand, a user who is viewing the RSVPs on a desktop might be interested in detailed statistics on how and when users RSVPed.