Who invented the qr barcode

A QR code is characterized by a two-dimensional pattern of square black and white dots. With this pattern, it is possible to imbed time more information than a standard barcode.

QR codes are packed with information. The codes can contain basic information like links to websites or large volumes of data consisting of over 4, alphanumeric characters that are encoded into the patterns.

To access the information, a person needs only scan the QR code. One day, while arranging the black and white pieces on the grid, it hit me that it represented a straightforward way of conveying information. It was a eureka moment. The strategy worked, and soon firms around the country were utilizing the technology. With the advent of the mobile phone equipped with cameras, QR codes began to come into their own.

Using a built-in camera, the ATM is able to determine whether the person operating the ATM is in fact the account holder, and will not dispense cash until a positive identification is made. A camera mounted on the platform scans the codes, allowing the gates on the platform to be opened in sync with the train doors. And with all these components, it means one thing: QR codes are making a global comeback. Back in , QR codes became a hit in Japan, as they were used to share information.

From paying for meals to clothing to groceries, most transactions are happening through QR code scanning. It creates a new economy based on scannable codes. To rent a public e-scooter or e-bike, you only need your QR code. And this is only the beginning. Beggars in China are becoming innovative by using QR codes for donations, as well, as charitable organizations.

The wave has not left the United States untouched. The U. Why were QR codes invented? Denso Wave and Masahiro Hara invented the QR code in , just as automotive manufacturing technology was picking up steam. The reason QR codes were invented has everything to do with the type of barcode they replaced: the traditional UPC barcode. At the time, it was known as linear scanning technology.

And it looked like a bullseye. Meanwhile, post-war American suburbs were booming. The birth of the supermarket to feed the suburban masses led to a unique logistical problem. How can so many individual items in one place be processed quickly? As American dissatisfaction with waiting in line grew throughout the 50s and 60s, IBM set to work in the early s to revisit the earlier patented technology.

The idea was to create a universal system of product identification and processing. Those were sold and distributed by IBM. Throughout the 80s, thousands upon thousands of grocery and retail stores adopted the technology. Billions of items are now scanned every day in every industry across the world.

In , code 39 barcodes were created that could store 30 alphanumeric characters. As time went on, barcode technology evolved.

New types of barcodes were introduced. Each capable of storing more and more data.