QR Code History: A Technology That Simplifies Our Daily Lives

Today, QR codes are everywhere, thanks to the proliferation of smartphones in every segment of society. To make monetary transactions, check menus, or access an event, the only thing we all need to do—scanning those black-and-white pixelated squares—voila! We are done! Surely, QR codes make our daily lives easy and convenient.

Although the technology looks simple, it has a rich history intertwined with phases of development, challenges, and refinement. Today, we’re taking you on a journey to unravel QR code history—a complete chapter on how QR codes were invented and the subsequent transformations that shaped them today.

Chapter 1: When was the QR code invented?

The QR code history began in the early 1990s when Masahiro Hara, a Japanese engineer at Denso Wave, invented it in 1994. At that time, Japan’s automotive industry, engaged in mass production, brought a new challenge to the forefront – keeping track of the manufactured items. 

In search of a modern solution to the problem, QR code technology was invented and used to label automotive parts. This technology helped automotive companies track and store car parts organized and systematically. 

Chapter 2: Challenges of old-fashioned barcodes

In the 1960s, barcodes or matrix codes were successfully used in railway transport, with the leading examples of how British Railways and the Association of American Railroads embraced the new technology. Due to rising innovations in the subsequent years, such as self-mounted barcodes and scanners, a few brands implemented the technology in supermarkets. In the early 2000s, barcodes were widely adopted at supermarket checkouts worldwide. 

One major limitation of barcodes was that they could only hold a tiny amount of information. Even 2D barcodes, though better than linear barcodes, couldn’t encode much more data and could have only limited alphanumeric characters. 

Besides limited capacity for information, barcodes also have several other limitations, such as low reading speed and expensive scanning equipment. For instance, barcodes could hold only about 20 characters and couldn’t accommodate special or complex characters like Kanji. 

Chapter 3: Rise of QR code

Despite the widespread use of barcodes, businesses faced challenges due to their limitations, including at supermarkets. They created financial burdens due to expensive equipment and hampered factory production lines due to inefficiencies. 

The advent of QR codes, a versatile technology, solved the inherent problems of barcodes and, hence, gained popularity. QR codes can encode about 7,000 numerals and even Kanji characters, holding vast amounts of information. They can also store up to 200 times more data than traditional barcodes, and their reading speed is 10 times faster than barcodes. 

The developers named it the QR code, which stands for quick response. At first, the QR code was primarily used in car factories to keep track of all the parts and cars. The technology could handle more data and offer quicker, so it was widely adopted to process information across industries.

This is how QR technology rose and revolutionized the digital access and sharing of information. 

Chapter 4: Re-invention of QR code with smartphones

Smartphones reinvented the purposes of QR codes when the technology was freely available to the public in the 2000s. It was possible due to Denso Wave’s generous decision to make the technology open and accessible to the public. So, Hara and Denso Wave didn’t own patent rights for QR codes.

Hara and Denso Wave never anticipated that the technology would be widely acceptable among common individuals. In Microsoft’s quote, “Hara and Denso Wave foresaw the future of QR codes in other industrial settings, but they didn’t anticipate its popularity amongst small businesses and ordinary individuals.”

Sharp Corporation, a Japanese cellphone manufacturer, first integrated a QR scanner into its phone in 2002, setting the stage for everyone to carry it in their pocket. Eventually, every smartphone manufacturer featured a camera in the cell phone–a perfect technology for a QR code reader. 

Chapter 5: Embracing the smart digital age

In 2017, Apple introduced a native QR code reader on iPhones using a camera app as an update to September iOS 11. This was a revolution in QR code history, as more than 700 million iPhone users worldwide could now use the technology at their fingertips. 

For the first time, QR technology was available to the masses. Many iPhone users accessed it freely, marking the beginning of an era of public access. However, it was not a full-fledged celebration as iPhone users were mainly concentrated in the US and Europe. 

QR codes were widely accessible to people in Asia and Latin America due to the rising integration of technology into Android phones. The rise of smartphone users worldwide and mobile internet accessibility for everyone led to the wonders of the smart digital age. 

Chapter 5: COVID-19 pandemic consolidated QR code use

Starting at the end of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic spared no one and affected millions of lives globally. The virus spread was out of control, and governments across the globe started imposing strict regulations to curb the spread, such as social distancing practices to avoid physical contact. 

Considering hygiene importance, restaurants, retail shops, and online stores adopted QR codes to provide contactless services—from making payments to checking menus. During complete lockdowns, QR codes became popular due to the new norms for contactless payment. 

About 85% of all mobile payments in China used QR code technology in 2020. Many research consultants and companies, including McKinsey & Company, confirmed the rising use of digital payment during the pandemic. An article in the Times of India explained a report by BARC India and Nielsen that QR code usage in India soared by 550% from 2019 to 2020. 

Under the directions of governments worldwide, QR codes were used in various public places and digital spaces to provide COVID-related information. Countries like India, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore used QR codes to track COVID-19 cases.

Chapter 6: QR codes today

QR codes are now integral to our digital world. Today, we see them everywhere, from small grocery shops to luxury shops at big malls. Many people, especially the tech-savvy, stop carrying cash in their wallets. They prefer digital payment and can easily access their digital wallets. 

With a series of innovations and the availability of different solutions, QR codes are no longer limited to payment. Today, businesses and professional individuals use this flexible tool for marketing and promotion, allowing customers or clients easy access to a large amount of information.

QR technology is widely used in the event management, logistics, restaurants, and education sectors to manage entries, track shipping, check digital menus, and share study materials with students. With just a scan, a smartphone user can share his or her digital business cards quickly and easily, boosting networking at trade fairs or business events. 

Also, QR code customization is easy using a combination of different designs, colors, and shapes. Enterprises often create brand-specific QR codes using the brand logo and images. From product packaging to billboards, we’ve seen different brands use unique QR codes to boost their brand image and reputation.

Chapter 7: Future of QR codes

QR codes are versatile, constantly evolving technologies. Due to the broad integration of advanced technologies like Artificial intelligence, Blockchain, and Augmented Reality (AR) into QR codes, people have started experiencing creative applications. These technologies are evolving quickly and are revamping QR codes for future use. 

For instance, businesses use cutting-edge technologies in QR codes to provide virtual trials and checkouts of different products, especially clothes and real estate properties. Integrating Blockchain technology also helps enhance the security features of QR codes. Protecting sensitive information will be much easier with advanced encryption features and additional verification steps. 

The future of QR codes is bright and promising with the emergence of several smart devices and the rising adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets among the tech-savvy population. 

Wrap up 

The history of QR codes is a testament to the growing importance of how technology has transformed our lives in the smart digital era. It started as a simple way to track car parts, but now it’s everywhere–whether paying for coffee, getting a bus ticket, or learning more about a painting. 

QR codes simplify our daily lives, allowing us to navigate between the physical and digital worlds with a scan. As technologies become smarter, we’ll see more innovative ways to access, share, and track information. That’s why QR codes are here to stay.

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