How can we scan millions of codes daily❓
Logistics, last-mile deliveries, and content sharing, among other activities, are supported by QRs.
We can see the combinatorial effect of the technologies by looking at some examples.
1- Fast speed for transferring information in pacing times.
2- A image worth more than a thousand words.
QR + Inventory
QR + Delivery
QR + Payments
QR + Traveling
QR + ______________
complete with more fields of human life using QR
QR codes are everywhere.
Let me tell you the story behind their development.
What does QR mean❓
Simple. It is all about speed.
Quick Response code
The origin of the humble QR
In 1994, Masahiro Hara and his team at Denso Wave Inc. (a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation) released the QR code system.
For two years, they worked to create a way to transmit more information in the codes, with the ability to be read by devices in the field, with great speed and accuracy, despite the affectations of dirt or cuts.
The leaders of the team: Masahiro Hara, the development leader, and Atsushi Tano in charge of system solutions.
What was the need for the development ❓
The best way to understand it is the statement from the leader of the project:
“In the 1990s, due to the shift from mass production of one type of product to more flexible production, more detailed production control was required at manufacturing sites, and in connection with this, it was necessary to develop a barcode that had greater capability”
Masahiro Hara
A significant improvement in efficiency was required because one worker had to scan up to 1,000 barcodes a day (each code stored 20 characters).
I am sure that the Japanese origin of the QR code system gave a long-term vision and greater demands on the development because of the need to integrate information in special Japanese characters.
In the words of the QR project leader:
“We will develop a compact code that can store more information, including kanji and kana characters, and at the same time can be read at a higher speed” Hara was determined to develop a new code system” Masahiro Hara
QR code patent
Denso Wave Inc. has the original patent of the QR code, and you can find it in the following link:
After this initial development, a cascade of patents arrived on the scene: many companies around the globe have invented software and hardware solutions to transmit and read information.
What is the secret behind QR codes❓
We can read the information in both directions: vertical and horizontal.
These conditions create a feasible way to store much more information than the original bar codes.
Anatomy of a QR code
By now, I want to show you the main elements of the QR code.
Later during the week, I will share more resources on LinkedIn to understand how QR codes work.
From the image, we can see the three position detection patterns located on the corners of the code: they make it feasible to operate in the field because it allows scanners to read them fast despite the position of the label.
Credits of the image: article written by Waleed, Jumana & Jun, Huang & Saadoon, Sarah & Abid, Saad & Hatem, Hiyam. (2015). An Immune Secret QR-Code Sharing based on a Twofold Zero-Watermarking Scheme. International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Engineering. 10. 399-412. 10.14257/ijmue.2015.10.4.38.
Another feature integrated into the technology is the Error correction mechanism, which makes them robust and reliable.
Now, I share the following image that shows the four levels of error detection. Today we are not going into details, but it is incredible to know that Level H can correct up to 30% of errors.
Types of QR codes
Initially, we can classify them as Static and Dynamic.
The last ones can be updated and track information, and these conditions are the basis of new applications.
We will check Dynamic QRs in future posts.
Beyond this classification, we can find the following ones for its particular features:
- QR code Model 1 and Model 2
- Micro QR
- rMQR
- SQRC
- Frame QR
You will discover more at the Qrcode.com blog.
Versions and information capacity
Based on the capacity of modules to store information, there are versions of the code (1 to 40), and each has four additional modules per side than the former one.
It means version 1 has 21 modules and version 40 has 177. But an image can be worth a thousand words.
See the image to understand what I tried to explain 😀
Applications for QR codes
We have been using this technology for almost three decades, and there are uncountable applications.
See some of the examples before reviewing more information in future posts:
- Inventory and logistics
- Business cards
- Address people to specific URL
- Download apps or files
- Transmit files
- Payments
- Restaurants menus
- Branded QRs
And, there is a long, etc.
Remember this story the next time you scan a QR code.
Sometimes an internal invention becomes a global blockbuster.
Let me emphasize 2 points 👇
- Committed teams driven by purpose create great solutions: focus your energy on promoting teamwork inside your company, tell them the objectives, and provide them with tools for development.
- 🛑 Enjoy QRs, but be careful: this technology has features to make our lives easier, but sometimes there are risks to consider, including URL data to redirect users to malicious websites, phishing, or exploiting vulnerabilities in the applications (reader, web browser, or image viewer).
Combinatorial effect: Need to solve + Purpose + Committed People 🚀🚀🚀
Keep your curiosity and imagination at their utmost.
See you in the upcoming issues.
Article “QR Code development story”, from the Technology blog at Denso Wave Inc., a subsidiary of Toyota: https://www.denso-wave.com/en/technology/vol1.html
Article written by Waleed, Jumana & Jun, Huang & Saadoon, Sarah & Abid, Saad & Hatem, Hiyam. (2015). An Immune Secret QR-Code Sharing based on a Twofold Zero-Watermarking Scheme. International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Engineering. 10. 399-412. 10.14257/ijmue.2015.10.4.38.
“What is a QR code and how does it work? The beginner’s ultimate guide”, an article written by QR-Tiger blog, September 30th, 2022: https://www.qrcode-tiger.com/how-do-qr-codes-work
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