At the start of this year, we got a client who came to us with an interesting idea, he wanted to build a photo distribution application. What’s interesting about that? You may I ask, so let me tell you what.
The platform was to not only distribute photos but also use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and only share the photos of a guest at an event from the albums uploaded by the photographer or event organizer. Exciting isn’t it? Or like many would say, magic, which explains the application’s name of PhotoMagic.
This article isn’t about PhotoMagic, but a piece of technology that we incorporated to make this project easy to use for the guests registering for an event known as the mighty QR codes (Quick Response Codes). They have become ubiquitous in the digital world as a bridge between the physical and digital worlds.
These two-dimensional barcodes can store a huge amount of information including URLs, text, and contact details, allowing them to be used in a wide range of applications from contactless payments to marketing promotions. Let’s look at the history, current state, and future potential of QR codes.
History of QR Codes
The history of QR codes dates back to 1994, when it was invented by Masahiro Hara, an engineer of the Denso Wave company, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. The main motive of the invention was to increase the efficiency of tracking car parts in the process of production. Conventional bar codes, which could store only a limited amount of data, were inadequate for the increasingly complex automotive manufacturing process. Hara's development allowed for a much larger amount of data, allowing manufacturers to store more information in a smaller footprint.
QR codes were unique for several reasons. Unlike conventional barcodes, which can only be read from one direction, QR codes can be read from any angle due to their unique structure. This adaptability was critical in a fast-paced environment where speed and accuracy were essential.QR codes quickly became popular in the automotive industry, but soon found use in a variety of industries including retail, logistics, and marketing.
Smartphones and the rise in popularity of QR codes
The early 2000s were a turning point for QR codes as smartphones began to gain popularity. Thanks to the cameras on mobile devices, users can easily scan QR codes. Businesses soon realized the potential of QR codes to connect customers with digital content. As a result, QR codes began appearing in advertisements, on product packaging, and even on business cards, leading to increased consumer interest.
The COVID-19 craze accelerated the proliferation of QR codes as businesses sought contactless security solutions. Restaurants began using QR codes on their menus, and retailers and e-commerce platforms began using QR codes for seamless payment. The pandemic demonstrated the versatility of QR codes and made them even more prevalent in everyday life.
The current state of QR codes
Today, QR codes have become an integral part of various industries. Their application goes beyond basic functionality and includes
Contactless payments: mobile wallets and payment platforms such as PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay use QR codes to facilitate transactions. Users can scan a merchant's QR code to complete a payment, increasing convenience and security.
Event ticketing: QR codes have become a standard way to sell tickets for events, concerts, and travel; QR codes provide an efficient way to enter events without a ticket, reducing wait times and points of contact.
Product information and marketing: brands use QR codes on packaging and promotional materials to provide detailed product information, customer reviews, and links to online stores. This not only increases customer engagement but also drives traffic to websites.
Social media and networks: QR codes make it easy to share social media profiles and contact information. Users can scan a code to follow a brand or contact a person without having to enter a URL or contact information.
Surveys and feedback: companies use QR codes to collect feedback from customers through surveys. Customers can scan the code to quickly navigate to the survey, making it easy to gather valuable information.
How QR codes work.
Understanding how QR codes work reveals their effectiveness: a QR code consists of several key elements
- Structure
- Position squares: three squares in the corners help the scanner determine the orientation of the code.
- Data Area: the center portion contains the encoded data. Starting from the right bottom corner, mainly represented with the orange lines
- Temporal patterns: alternating dark and light bars help identify code versions and sizes.
- Error correction: QR codes have redundancy and data can be recovered even if part of the code is damaged. They offer four levels of error correction 7%, 14%, 25% or 30%
- Scanning process:
- The camera captures an image of the QR code.
- The scanning software identifies the positional square and determines the orientation of the code.
- The data area is decoded and the encoded information is retrieved.
- Data encoding:
- QR codes use Reed-Solomon codes with error correction to provide redundancy.
- The information is then encoded into a series of black and white squares that form the pattern of the QR code.
- Decoding:
- The scanning software analyzes the module pattern to decode the QR code.
- The decoded data is interpreted based on its type (e.g., URL, text, etc.).
The Future of QR Codes
As technology continues to evolve, the future of QR codes looks promising. Here are some of the possible developments
- Increased interactivity: developments in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) could lead to QR codes becoming more interactive: scanning a QR code could activate AR content and increase user engagement in retail and marketing. The use of QR codes can also increase user engagement in retail and marketing.
- Increased security: the need for secure transactions is becoming paramount due to the rise in cyber threats. Future QR codes may incorporate advanced encryption technologies to ensure secure data transfer, especially in payment systems.
- Integration with IoT: The Internet of Things (IoT) opens up new opportunities for QR codes. Smart appliances and devices can use QR codes to facilitate communication and data sharing, making user interactions more seamless.
- Personalization and targeted marketing: QR codes can be a source of personalized experiences based on user behavior. For example, scanning a code can lead to personalized promotions and recommendations based on past purchases.
- Global standardization: as QR codes grow in popularity, global standardization may emerge to ensure compatibility across different regions and industries, making QR codes even easier to use.
Conclusion.
QR codes have changed the way we interact with information: from their inception in the automotive industry to their widespread use in various industries today, QR codes have become an important tool for companies looking to increase customer engagement and efficiency.
As technology advances, QR codes will continue to evolve and provide new and innovative ways to connect the digital and physical worlds. The future of QR codes holds exciting possibilities and is expected to enrich our interactions and experiences in an increasingly digital world.
If you are interested in making a QR code generator, then you’ll need to do more research on the topic, especially on the part of error correction to make your QR codes readable even though it’s damaged. That’s it for now, you may visit www.photomagic.events to check out the application I spoke about in this article.
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