How a Japanese carmaker created QR codes that changed payments, travel and more
Born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1957, Hara was always a curious mind, fascinated by puzzles and problem-solving.He pursued his education at the Tokyo University of Science, one of Japan's most esteemed institutions, where he honed his skills in engineering and information technology.EARLY CAREER AT DENSO CORPORATIONAfter completing his studies, Hara joined Denso Corporation, a leading automotive components manufacturer and a member of the Toyota Group. At Denso, Hara initially worked in product development and was involved in creating barcode scanning systems to streamline automotive manufacturing processes.While barcodes were effective, they had significant limitations -- they could store only a small amount of data and required precise alignment for reading.BIRTH OF THE QR CODE advertisementRealising the need for a more efficient system that could hold larger volumes of information and be scanned from any angle, Hara set out to innovate. Inspired by the principles of playing "Go," a traditional Japanese board game involving black-and-white stones placed on a square grid, Hara devised the concept of a two-dimensional code.
Fireman's coat (19th century) decorated with a spider hovering over an abadoned Go board (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
In 1994, after months of hard work and collaboration with his team at Denso, Hara developed the QR code.Unlike traditional barcodes, QR codes could store hundreds of times more data, including alphanumeric characters, and could be scanned swiftly from any direction -- a true game-changer.GLOBAL ADOPTION AND APPLICATIONS Initially intended for tracking automotive parts, QR codes quickly found applications across industries worldwide, from retail and healthcare to entertainment and transportation. The technology's open patent policy further accelerated its global adoption, allowing businesses and developers to use it freely without licencing fees.Despite inventing one of the world's most widely used technologies, Masahiro Hara and Denso Wave chose not to patent the QR code, allowing it to be freely used and adapted globally. This decision greatly accelerated its adoption and innovation.advertisementInitially, QR codes were primarily used within factories for inventory management and logistics, and it was only in the early 2000s-with the rise of smartphones-that they began appearing in public-facing applications and gained widespread popularity.ABOUT PERSONAL LIFE Hara is married and has children, though he has kept much of his private life away from the limelight. Even in recent years, he has shown keen interest in the evolving applications of QR codes, including their use in contactless payments and combating counterfeit products.Today, every time we scan a QR code, whether to make a payment, download an app, or access exclusive content, we owe a silent thanks to Masahiro Hara -- the visionary who revolutionised the way the world connects information with action.
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