Are Beacons the QR Code of 2015?

Beacon technology, currently used in some parks, museums, retail stores and restaurants, has failed to gain any meaningful traction in the last few years. It's a familiar feeling to me because it is reminiscent of a time in 2010 when marketers and advertisers rushed to implement a QR code strategy for their business. Similar to QR codes, beacons seem interesting, but most consumers I speak with still do not know how to interact with either of them. For a person to make use of the beacons or QR codes, the technology needs to communicate with a mobile device or more specifically a mobile application -- and this alone makes me skeptical.