QR Code

A QR ("quick response") code is a two dimensional bar- code invented by the Japanese corporation Denso Wave. In- formation is encoded in both the vertical and horizontal di- rection, thus holding up to several hundred times more data than a traditional bar code. Data is accessed by capturing a photograph of the code using a camera (e.g. built into a smartphone) and processing the image with a QR reader. QR Codes have rapidly gained international popularity and found widespread adoption, especially in Japan where its ability to encode Kanji symbols by default makes it especially suitable. Popular uses include storing URLs, addresses and various forms of data on posters, signs, business cards, public transport vehicles, etc. Indeed, this mechanism has a vast number of potential applications. For instance, the sports brand Umbro have embedded QR codes into the collars of England football shirts, sending fans to a secret website where prizes can be won. QR Codes have already overtaken the classical barcode in popularity in some areas. This stems in many cases from the fact that a typical barcode can only hold a maximum of 20 digits, whereas as QR Code can hold up to 7,089 characters. Combined with the diversity and extendability o ffered, this makes the use of QR Codes much more appealing than that of barcodes. Statistically, QR Codes are capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one tenth the space of a traditional bar code. A great feature of QR Codes is that they do not need to be scanned from one particular angle, as QR Codes can be read regardless of their positioning. QR codes scanners are capable of determining the correct way to decode the image due to thethree speci c squares that are positioned in the corners of the symbol and the alignment blocks. QR Codes were initially used by vehicle manufacturers for tracking parts. After a while, companies began to see the variety of di erent use cases for QR Codes. The most popular commercial use for QR Codes is in the telecommunications industry, where the increasing adoption of smartphones seems to be the biggest driver of their popularity. With the technology of mobile phones constantly evolving, especially in the area of mobile internet access, QR Codes seem to be an adequate tool to quickly and e fficiently

communicate URLs to users. This also allows o ine media such as magazines, newspapers, business cards, public transport vehicles, signs, t-shirts or any other medium that can accept the print of a QR Code to be used as carriers for advertisements for online products.

References: QR Code Recognition Based On Image Processing http://www.advancedsourcecode.com/qrcode.asp