QR Codes and Their Journey

Initial Perception

• Early skepticism about QR codes: considered ugly and meaningless.
• Preference for direct text or web addresses.

Evolution and Ubiquity

• QR codes became widely useful and are now everywhere:
  • Used in tickets, restaurant menus, advertising.
  • Common in financial transactions in some countries.

Historical Context

Background

• Origin dates back to early digitization efforts.
• Notable figure: Samuel Finley Breeze Morse.

Morse's Contribution

• Painter turned inventor after personal tragedy.
• Developed the electric telegraph in 1836 with:
  • Joseph Henry and Alfred Vail.
  • Introduced Morse code (dots and dashes).

Impact of Morse Code

• Became an international standard for rapid messaging.
• Used in military, maritime, and aviation.
• SOS distress signal: easy to send and recognize.

Transition to Barcodes

1940s Innovations

• Bernard Silver and Norman Woodland address supermarket checkout inefficiencies.
• Creation of the first barcode from Morse code inspiration.
• Development of the Universal Product Code (UPC).

Barcode Functionality

• UPC barcode: 12 digits, unique product identifiers.
• Structure allows for easy scanning and data retrieval.

Limitations of Barcodes

• Limited information capacity.
• Example through mad cow disease outbreak highlighting the need for better tracking systems.

QR Codes Development

Shift to 2D Codes

• David Allais attempted to improve barcode data capacity.
• Masahiro Hara designed QR codes to store more information.

QR Code Structure

• Encoding process explained through Go board demonstration.
• Uses byte encoding and ASCII to convert URL into binary.
• Versions: 21x21 (version 1) to 177x177 (version 40).
• Error correction capabilities, allowing functionality despite damage.

Key Features of QR Codes

• Position squares and alignment patterns for orientation.
• Quiet zone for scanning accuracy.
• Masking patterns to prevent uniformity issues.

Applications and Success of QR Codes

Early Uses and Growth

• Initial use in industrial applications.
• Gained popularity post-2002 mad cow disease outbreak.
• No patent restrictions helped proliferation.

Modern Adoption

• Built into smartphone camera apps (2017).
• Increased use during COVID-19 for contactless services.
• Application in payment systems and health records.

Future of QR Codes

Safety Concerns

• Potential scams using QR codes.
• Importance of verifying links before clicking.

Longevity and Capacity

• Virtually limitless QR code options due to high unique combination possibilities.
• Future applications: potential innovations and trends in QR code usage.