Extended essay information:

Research question: How do QR Codes work?

Introduction

What is a QR code

History of the QR codes

How it works

The mathematics behind QR codes

Conclusion

Works cited
Introduction
What is a QR code

A QR code (quick response code) is an image containing black and white squares

that, when scanned (with a smartphone camera), transmits certain information, like a

link, internet access, text, etc... QR codes can be seen almost everywhere these

days, for example, some restaurants already use QR codes to show their menus

instead of paper. QR codes’ use is getting wider and wider every day because of how

easy and fast you can read them. You can read them just by using a qr code reader

app, or even just your regular camera (depends on the smartphone) and pointing

your camera to it. They can store up to 7,000 numeric characters, 4,000

alphanumeric characters, or 2,000 kanji characters.

QR codes have different versions which vary from Version 1 to Version 40. Each

version contains a unique module configuration or number of modules (the black and

white squares present in a QR code). The module configuration is determined by the

number of modules present in the code, starting from Version 1 (which contains 21 x

21 modules) up to Version 40 (which contains 177 x 177 modules). Each ascending

version number has 4 more modules on each side than the previous one.
History of the QR codes

The creation

The qr code has been invented in Japan in 1994 by Masahiro Hara. Masahiro

worked at DENSO WAVE where he was in charge of the development of a

new method for tracking inventory in the automotive industry and a quicker

method of data decoding than standard barcodes.

The format of the qr code is inspired by the

Japanese board game go.

The ascension in Japan

At its beginning, the qr code was not very popular, it only started gaining in

popularities in the the lates 2000s with the proliferation of cellphones and the

creation of QR code reading software, but its real first boom of popularity

happened in 2011 as it was utilized to distribute emergency information and to

assist in the search for missing individuals during the Japanese earthquake

and tsunami.
The ascension in the rest of the world

After 2011, the qr code started to be use in the whole world in a bunch of different

sectors, but its thanks to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic that the qr code popularity

exploded. In example, the restaurants began to use qr

code to show their menu and the shops did the same

to show to their client their site so they could buy

online.

So now, the qr code is used in all the most important industries including marketing,

transportation, and advertising. For mobile payments, airline boarding cards, event

tickets, and product information, it is also widely used. As they are so often used, QR

codes have become a significant component of contemporary technology, and they

are still developing with new uses and applications.

A QR Code has little squares, ones that are white, which represent the number 0(in

binary code, and the others are black, which represent the number 1.

In QR Codes, there are 3 parts: Function pattern, Format & Version Information

Pattern, and Data Bits.

Function Pattern

The function pattern is an element of the QR code that doesn’t store data, however, it

is required for the specification of the code. The function pattern contains different

parts in it:

Pattern

The three big squares on the qr code are the pattern. The pattern is for pixel

size reading and to indicate the position of the QR code.

Timing patterns

These two stripes are patterns who alternate their

color, and their function is to tell the size of the matrix (for

example 21 x 21).
Alignment patterns

The number of alignment patterns in a QR Code varies based on the version used

(e.g., QR Code version 1 has no alignment pattern). Alignment patterns aid in

determining potential perspective distortions in the QR Code image during

scanning.

Format & Version Information Pattern

The format information comprises a 15-bit data segment that encodes details about

the error correction and mask pattern being utilized. On the other hand, the version

information contains an 18-bit data segment that conveys the QR code version

details. The Format & Version Information Pattern consist of the following:

Error correction

QR codes can be damaged up to 30% and still be readable thanks to these

pieces. The quality of the correction can vary depending on the pattern of the

error correction pieces.

readable of damaged up to 25%.

The mask

The mask is a pattern to avoid repeated blocks. There are 8 different kinds of

mask represented by 3 squares each, each one associated with a different

pattern. What the mask does is to invert the bits that overlap the colored

squares in the mask.

Format correction

The rest of the squares in the Format & Version Information Pattern are for

format information and correction of the QR code.

QR codes use a variety of mathematical concepts and algorithms to encode and

decode data. Here are some of the key mathematical concepts that are used in QR

codes:

Error correction: QR codes use error correction techniques to ensure that even if the

code is partially damaged or obscured, it can still be read. The error correction

algorithm used in QR codes is based on Reed-Solomon codes, which are a type of

error-correcting code commonly used in digital communication systems.

Data encoding: QR codes use a combination of binary and alphanumeric encoding to

represent data. Binary encoding is used to encode machine-readable data such as

URLs and phone numbers, while alphanumeric encoding is used for human-readable

text.

Matrix mathematics: QR codes are represented as square matrices, which are

collections of numbers arranged in rows and columns. The matrix representation

allows for efficient encoding and decoding of data, as well as error correction.

Polynomial interpolation: The Reed-Solomon error correction algorithm used in QR

codes relies on polynomial interpolation to reconstruct missing data. This involves

using a set of data points to generate a polynomial equation that can be used to

estimate missing values.

Modulo arithmetic: QR codes use modulo arithmetic to reduce the size of the data

that needs to be encoded. Modulo arithmetic involves dividing a number by a fixed

value and using the remainder as the encoded value. Overall, QR codes rely on a

combination of mathematical concepts and algorithms to ensure efficient encoding

and decoding of data, as well as robust error correction.

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https://www.qrcode.com/en/history/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k09ip9Z6TCk