What Is a QR Code?

Many significant innovations have occurred in recent decades. Some of these innovations have made transactions and processes more accessible, which are just a few of the most essential aspects of our lives. One such innovation is the invention of QR Codes. But what exactly are QR codes? This article will discuss what QR codes are, how they work, and their various applications. We’ll also explore the benefits and limitations of QR codes.

What is QR code?

QR codes, short for Quick Response Codes, are a type of barcode that can contain information depending on its usage. QR codes are considered 2D barcodes because they carry information in vertical and horizontal directions.

A brief history of QR codes

QR code is a trademark of the Japanese automotive company Denso Wave. The company was one of the many businesses that faced challenges with the traditional UPC barcode system due to its limited storage and scanning limitations.

In 1994, a Denso Wave employee named Masahiro Hara thought of creating QR codes while playing Go. Go is a board game consisting of a 19×19 grid played using black and white stones. This characteristic of the board game resembles a QR code, which inspired Hara to develop a new type of barcode that could store more information and be read from multiple angles. Hara and Denso Wave then developed a QR code and made the technology freely available to the public.

Meanwhile, mobile phones with cameras became popular in the succeeding years, becoming an evolutionary movement for QR codes’ use cases. In 2002, tech and electronics company Sharp launched the first phone with a camera to read QR codes. It was a landmark moment for QR code technology because it laid the groundwork for future smartphone development that can easily scan and interpret QR codes, making them accessible to a wider audience.

How do QR codes work?

Encoding

The process of converting data into a QR code pattern involves several steps:

• Data input: When creating a QR code, the first thing needed is the information to be embedded. These could be anything like texts, URLs, or images. This information will then be uploaded to a QR code generator to be processed using the next steps.

• Data conversion: Information is converted into binary format so that it can be read by a QR code scanner. The information is transformed into a sequence of 0s and 1s.

• Error correction: The information will be repetitively embedded in the QR code. Redundant data is added to the binary sequence to ensure that the QR code scanners can still read the information even if the code is damaged.

• Pattern generation: The binary data is mapped onto a grid of black and white squares, creating a distinctive QR code pattern.

Decoding

When a device scans a QR code, it follows these steps:

• Image capture: The QR code is captured as a digital image. Any device that can read QR codes uses a camera, such as a smartphone, tablet, or dedicated QR code scanner, which can capture the digital image of the code.

• Pattern recognition: The QR code scanning device will then identify the distinctive black-and-white square pattern.

• Data extraction: The binary data contained in the QR code is then read and extracted.

• Error correction: If a part of the QR code is damaged, redundant data is used to correct any errors, ensuring that information can still be read by the scanner despite the image’s imperfections. This error correction capability makes QR codes highly reliable and versatile for various applications.

• Data interpretation: The decoded binary data is converted to its original format, such as text or a URL.

What are the applications of QR codes?

QR codes have many use cases, especially in processes that aim to make transactions faster. Some of these processes are the following:

Business

• Marketing. Campaigns use QR codes to provide more information about the marketing material to targeted audiences.
• Payment systems. Digital wallets can generate or scan QR codes to initiate payment transactions.
• Loyalty programs. Companies also use QR codes to track a customer’s loyalty points.
• Inventory management. Businesses streamline the movement of products through the use of QR codes.

Personal Use

• Event tickets. QR codes also authenticate event passes, providing a secure entry system.
• Boarding passes. Airports, seaports, and transportation terminals utilize QR codes for boarding verification and gate access.
• Social media profiles. People can easily share their social media accounts through URLs embedded in a QR code.
• Contact information. Similar to social media use cases, QR codes can store contact information for later sharing for personal or business purposes.

Education

• Interactive learning materials. Teachers and instructors can use QR codes to provide students with learning resources.
• Quizzes. Tests and examinations can be administered using QR codes, allowing immediate feedback and grading.
• Attendance tracking. Students can log their attendance by scanning their assigned QR codes, which teachers can use to track and record their presence or absence.

Healthcare

• Patient information. QR codes can also store patient information for easy and efficient access to patient information.
• Medical records. Some health institutions now use QR codes to securely keep medical records for later access to a patient’s health history.
• Prescription tracking. Monitoring a patient’s medications can be enhanced by using QR codes and preventing errors such as dosages, medication frequency, etc.

What are the pros and cons of QR codes?

Like any other technological advancements, QR codes have brought a lot of benefits to people. But at the same time, they didn’t come without limitations. Here are some pros and cons of QR codes:

Pros

• Efficiency: Access to information improved and became more efficient, thanks to QR codes. A simple scan can instantly link users to websites, videos, or other digital content.

• Versatility: QR codes are helpful in many industries, including marketing, since they can be placed anywhere visible to a marketer’s target audience. Payment systems have become faster, too, with QR codes, eliminating the need for people to carry cash or cards. Ticketing and sharing personal information have also become more accessible due to the rise of QR codes, which staff can scan to authorize people’s access.

• Cost-effectiveness: Creating and printing QR codes are inexpensive and more cost-effective than paying financial costs associated with traditional point-of-sale (POS) systems and terminals.

• Accessibility: QR codes can be scanned using smartphones or dedicated readers, making them accessible to many users.

• Interactivity: QR codes can enhance user engagement by providing interactive experiences, such as games, surveys, or augmented reality content.

Cons

• Security risks: QR codes can be used to deceive people by embedding a malicious website that unsuspecting victims might potentially access. QR codes can also contain URLs that can initiate downloads of malware or viruses.

• Technological dependence: Since QR codes require a device with a camera, those who don’t have access to these devices cannot utilize the benefits of QR codes. Meanwhile, some may have phones with cameras that can read QR codes. However, an internet connection is often needed to access the information from the QR codes. This hinders people who don’t have access to internet connectivity to take advantage of QR code technology.

• Privacy concerns: Some QR codes may collect personal information, raising privacy concerns. Others are also concerned that random bad actors may scan their QR codes and use the collected data for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or fraud.

• Design limitations: QR codes have specific design requirements, and deviations from these standards can make scanning difficult.

• Environmental impact: Excessive use of QR codes can contribute to waste if they are not properly recycled or reused. Printed QR codes use papers that can contribute to deforestation and pollution if not managed responsibly.

Conclusion

QR codes have become the backbone of easy and efficient information transfer and transaction in the digital age. The technology’s versatility, cost-efficiency, accessibility, and other advantages have made it a very useful tool for businesses and organizations. Other institutions like health and finance also leverage QR codes for secure data keeping and exchanges. While there are some drawbacks to the utilization of QR codes, the technology still plays a significant role in shaping our interactions with the digital world.