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There’s A Square Barcode In Your Future (QR code)

posted on April 20, 2011

It’s hard to imagine what the world would be like without barcodes. Although the idea behind them goes back to the 1940s, they really didn’t come into use until the mid-70s. Today, hardly anything gets by without having a barcode associated with it. Now that the barcode has come of age, there’s a second generation on the way. Developed in 1994 by Denso-Wave to track auto parts for its parent company, Toyota, the QR (Quick Recognition) code carries a lot more information than simple numbers and letters.

Basically, a barcode is a series of numbers and letters represented by an image. Because the image has to be readable by a machine, the image is made as simply as possible. That means the lines of varying thickness that we’re familiar with today. The real trick is in what those numbers mean. In the case of most retail items those numbers those numbers are its Universal Product Code and are used to identify an item by manufacturer and type, but barcodes are used internally by organizations to track documents, equipment and parts. Because they’ve proven so useful, manufacturers have come to demand more versatility.

This is where the QR code enters the picture. Made possible by high quality printing devices and improvements in barcode reading technology, the QR code is made up by more than just the straight lines of the of the traditional barcode. The square barcodes make use of blocks, patterns and positioning to convey much more information. Business can add more detailed information about a product such as when and where an item was manufactured. The code can hold the company’s web address or other contact information.

Another aspect of the QR code is that it’s not simply for manufacturers and retailers. QR codes can be read by anyone with a scanner. In many cases, smart phones are able to act as a barcode scanner. This puts power in the hands of the consumer. Because of the ability to add information and the versatility of the kinds of information, anyone can create their own QR code to label their personal photo or video collection if they have the software and a printer.

Don’t be surprised if you come across some of the square barcodes. On the other hand, don’t expect them to be everywhere yet. Keep in mind that the first commercial use of the barcode occurred in 1972, but they businesses didn’t start using them extensively until the early 80s. There are several Free QR Code Generators. I used beqrious. to create this one.