The origin of QR Code

Suddenly we saw a lot of square box which contains what seemed a garbled lines which looks like a puzzle. That is actually a QR code (short for Quick Response) which scanned by a QR reader and provides lot of information. We all know barcodes, but QR codes store a lot more information. Did you know that QR Code innovation was developed way back in 1994? It was Masahiro Hara and a team at Denso Wave Incorporated who started to think differently how they store and retrieve more information than a the traditional 2D barcode. Today, we saw a QR code displayed everywhere. More frequently in the tender or cashier, products and labels and even links to downloads in your mobile devices.

The History and the Challenge

Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota, faced challenges with traditional barcodes for tracking parts in the automotive assembly process. Barcodes could only store a limited amount of information, and reading them required specialized scanners. They need to think possibilities to go around the limited information.

The Game GO

The idea come up after watching game GO. Masahiro Hara came up with the idea of using a grid system, similar to the game, to store more information in a smaller space. He realized that this system could be read from multiple directions, angles, and distances.

Wider Adoption

As smartphone technology advanced and camera capabilities improved, QR codes became more accessible and versatile. They began to be used in advertising, ticketing, and various other applications.

Pandemic Impact

After the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a rapid adaptation of the QR Codes as it enabled many advantages, ranging from cashless payments to contactless interactions and transactions.