How Do I Choose the Best QR Code Reader?

QR QR code is a matrix QR code symbol invented and started to be used by Japanese Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994. The QR code not only has large information capacity, high reliability, and low cost, but also can display a variety of text information such as Chinese characters and images. Therefore, it quickly gained popularity in Japan and South Korea, and later, in Europe and America, it began to be used in large quantities.

QR QR code

QR code is a kind of two-dimensional bar code. QR comes from the abbreviation of Quick Response in English, which means fast response. It comes from the inventor's hope that the QR code can make its content be decoded quickly. QR codes can store more information than ordinary barcodes, and there is no need to align the scanner straight when scanning like ordinary barcodes. The QR code is square and only available in black and white. In three of the four corners, there are smaller, square-shaped patterns resembling the word "hui". These 3 patterns are used to help decoding software positioning. Users do not need to align, and the data can still be read correctly regardless of scanning at any angle. QR codes are most common in Japan and are currently the most popular two-dimensional space barcodes in Japan. QR codes can store more information than ordinary barcodes. The Japanese QR code standard JIS X 0510 was released in January 1999, and its corresponding ISO international standard ISO / IEC18004 was approved in June 2000. According to the website information of Denso Wave company, QR code is an open standard, the specifications of QR code are public, and the patent rights held by Denso Wave company will not be enforced. In addition to the standard QR code, there is also a format called "micro QR code", which is a reduced version of the QR code standard and is mainly designed for applications that cannot handle larger scans. Micro QR codes also have multiple standards and can store up to 35 characters. ^[1]

QR codes were originally designed to make it easier to track parts in car manufacturers. Today, QR codes are widely used in inventory management in various industries. Users can also use a personal computer with RS-232C interface and a decoding program to connect to a scanner or camera to obtain the data in the QR code. It is very suitable for enterprise applications such as inventory management, and is used in food logistics, contact lenses, clothing and other fields .

The application of QR codes in Japan and South Korea is becoming more and more popular. Among them, Japan s NTT Docomo s contribution must be mentioned. The QR code decoding software built into its mobile phone allows more consumers to understand and use the services provided by QR codes. China Mobile also launched an offline business of QR codes. This move has shifted QR codes from enterprise-level applications to the lives of civilians. It is foreseeable that in the near future, QR codes will become closer to the lives of ordinary people ^[2]

(1) Mobile phone

Mobile phone viruses can be transmitted through a QR code. The virus is disguised as mobile chat software and provides a download link through the QR code. Once the user scans this QR code, the phone will automatically send text messages to the phone to deceive the phone bill. To this,

Numbers up to 7,089 characters

Letters up to 4,296 characters

Binary (8 bit) up to 2,953 bits

L level 7% can be modified

15% of M code can be modified

25% of Q code can be modified

30% of H code can be modified

1. Smart phones are not for everyone

Although the smartphone market is growing rapidly, data from Nielsen shows that 60% of users do not use smartphones.

2. There are many types of QR codes that lack uniform standards

Search for "QR code reader" in the Android App Store or iTunes Store and you will see hundreds of free and paid apps. This magazine's ad asks me to download a barcode reader before using it, and the other ad only shows a QR code? Which barcode reading application do users choose? All kinds of confusion, all kinds of codes.

3. Consumers are troublesome to use

For most people, they don't have a QR reader, don't know how to use it, or don't want to use it at all. If you think only some old guys say so, and today's young people who are familiar with technology like QR codes, you are wrong. Because many young people do not use QR codes. A recent survey by marketing agency Ypulse found that 64% of high school and college students don't know what a QR code is. Of the 36% who know QR codes, less than a fifth have ever tried to scan them.

4. A bad experience can make you lose interest forever

QR codes do come in handy, such as comparing prices when shopping in a place like Best Buy. A comScore survey also revealed that printed publications and product packaging are the two major sources of scan codes, with most scanning activities occurring at home or in stores. Although scannable bar codes are also useful, QR codes are printed everywhere, without regard to media, information, or target customers, that is astray.