Reading time: 3 minutes
qr code history
Nowadays people are turning more and more to qr codes, ils créate qr code specially at the moment with the multiple covid 19 episodes
QR codes are now so ubiquitous that not a day goes by without seeing one. In addition, new uses are constantly being imagined. Recently, QR codes have even started appearing on headstones as part of a service that provides information about the deceased.
So is the QR code a new technology or has it been a marginal creation that has become, nowadays, almost indispensable?Cette technologie est l'idée d'un ingénieur du fabricant Denso, basé à Aichi. Nous allons voir quelques faits surprenants sur la façon dont les codes sont apparus.
What are qr codes?
A QR code is a type of barcode that can be easily read by a digital device and stores information as a series of pixels in a square-shaped grid.
QR codes are frequently used to track product information in a supply chain and since many smartphones have built-in QR code readers, they are often used in marketing and advertising campaigns. More recently, they have played a key role in helping to trace exposure to the coronavirus and slow the spread of the virus covid 19
The origin of QR codes
The first qr code system was invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. They needed a more accurate way to track vehicles and parts during the manufacturing process. To achieve this, they developed a type of barcode capable of encoding alphanumeric characters.
The standard barcodes that you see in supermarkets can only be read in one direction: from top to bottom. This means they can only store a small amount of information, usually in an alphanumeric format. But a qr code is read in two directions: top to bottom and right to left. This allows it to host much more data.
Data stored in a qr code can include website URLs, phone numbers, or up to 4,000 characters of text. QR codes can also be used for:
- Create a direct link to download an application from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Authenticate online accounts and verify login details.
- Access Wi-Fi by storing encryption details such as SSID, password, and encryption type.
- Send and receive payment information.
And much more - a UK company called QR Memories even creates qr codes for use on headstones, allowing people to scan the code to find out more about that deceased person's life (if they have an obituary or an article online press about it).
The development team behind the qr code wanted the code to be easy to scan so operators didn't waste time placing it in the correct angle. They also wanted it to have a distinctive design so it was easy to identify. This led them to choose the iconic square shape which is still used today.
Denso Wave has made its qr code publicly available and has stated that it will not exercise its patent rights. This means anyone could make and use qr codes.
Initial adoption of the idea was slow; however, in 2002 the first mobile phones containing built-in QR readers were released in Japan. The use of Smartphones has led to an increase in the number of businesses using QR codes.
In 2020, Denso Wave continued to improve upon its original design. Their new qr codes include traceability, brand protection and anti-tampering measures. There are many new uses for qr code, from transferring payments to determining the position of objects in augmented reality.
We hope that now you will know more about qr codes the next time you come across one
For more information and answers to your questions, do not hesitate to consult our FAQs.