How a Japanese carmaker created QR codes that changed payments, travel and more
In today's fast-paced world, QR codes have become a near-ubiquitous part of everyday life. Whether it's scanning a restaurant menu, making digital payments, boarding a flight, or verifying products for authenticity, QR (Quick Response) codes have made transactions and access to information faster and easier.These small, square patterns of black-and-white modules may seem like a simple invention, but behind their creation lies an extraordinary story -- and an extraordinary man: Masahiro Hara.advertisementVISIONARY BEHIND QR CODES Masahiro Hara, the Japanese engineer who invented the QR code, transformed not just the way businesses operate, but also how people interact with technology globally.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who is Scott Bessent? The gay banker and Trump's tariff king who beat up Elon Musk
Scott Bessent, Trump's Treasury Secretary and a former Wall Street heavyweight, is making headlines not for fiscal policy but for a physical fight. In April 2025, during a tense Oval Office meeting about appointing an IRS commissioner, Bessent reportedly called Elon Musk a 'total fraud.' According to Steve Bannon, Musk reacted by slamming his shoulder into Bessent's rib cage 'like a rugby player.' Bessent allegedly struck back. The confrontation stunned White House staff and led to Musk's removal from the West Wing. The clash marks a dramatic escalation in the power struggle within Trump's inner circle and deepens the Musk-Bessent feud. Scott Besset's Wall Street beginnings and billion-dollar bets with Soros fund After graduating from Yale in 1984, Scott Bessent launched his financial career and rose to prominence at Soros Fund Management. He helped lead the firm's London office and played a key role in making a $1 billion profit on Black Wednesday in 1992. In 2013, he scored another massive victory, generating $1.2 billion in profits betting against the Japanese yen. By 2015, he established his own hedge fund, Key Square Group, cementing his status as a financial heavyweight. Political shift from Democratic supporter to MAGA movement insider Bessent was once a reliable donor to Democratic causes. He hosted a fundraiser for Al Gore in 2000, donated to John McCain and Barack Obama, and gave $25,000 to Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2013. However, after Trump's election in 2016, Bessent became one of his biggest supporters, donating millions and eventually advising the 2024 campaign. His influence grew as he helped develop Trump's economic agenda and organized high-dollar fundraisers across the country. Historic appointment as the first openly gay US Treasury Secretary Sworn in on January 28, 2025, Bessent made history as the first openly gay person to serve as Treasury Secretary and the highest-ranking LGBTQ official in the history of the U.S. government. While praised by some LGBTQ rights advocates, his appointment also drew criticism from former classmates at Yale, who accused him of enabling authoritarian tendencies within the administration. Bessent dismissed their concerns, calling the criticism 'equal parts odd and sad. ' Personal conflict with Elon Musk over economic promises and power Tensions between Bessent and Elon Musk escalated over Musk's role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Bessent criticized Musk for failing to deliver promised spending cuts, accusing him of exaggeration and fraud. According to Steve Bannon, this led to a physical altercation in the White House, with Musk allegedly attacking Bessent in frustration. The incident ended with Musk being escorted out and left a visible bruise that sparked speculation after a later press conference. Leadership on tariffs and reshaping America's trade strategy Bessent took the lead in implementing President Trump's sweeping tariffs in early 2025. He warned foreign governments against retaliation and insisted that short-term market drops would not derail the administration's agenda. Bessent also pushed for countries to scale back their ties with China as part of a broader effort to increase U.S. leverage in global trade. After initial backlash, he and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick persuaded Trump to pause several tariffs to avoid economic fallout. The rise of a combative and unapologetic power broker in Washington Scott Bessent is not just another financial technocrat. He has emerged as one of the most influential figures in Trump's second term, combining policy leadership with a take-no-prisoners attitude. Whether rewriting global trade norms or standing his ground—literally—against Elon Musk, Bessent is carving out a legacy defined by boldness, loyalty, and confrontation.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Top Banker Vows Loyalty to DEI at Tokyo Pride Parade as Trump's Pushback Rages
The head of one of Japan's largest investment banks used the Tokyo Pride parade to strike a rare public stance on pushing ahead with diversity initiatives, as US President Donald Trump seeks to abolish such policies. Few Japanese corporate executives have taken a clear position on US efforts to roll back the diversity, equity and inclusion policies that had become common at global corporations, though many firms appear to have quietly maintained their initiatives. 'Even if the US has adopted an anti-DEI policy, Japan should press ahead and make up for lost time rather than following suit,' said Akihiko Ogino, president and chief executive officer of Daiwa Securities Group Inc., before the start of the Tokyo Pride parade near the bustling Shibuya area. He was speaking Sunday at his first visit to the Tokyo iteration of the global event that organizers describe as 'advocating LGBTQ rights and dignity.' Read: Trump's Anti-Diversity Drive Diverts Investors to Laggard Japan Faced with a rapidly aging and shrinking population, some Japanese firms have sought to bolster the pool of available workers by becoming more inclusive of different gender and sexual minorities, as well as women. Major financial firms including Nomura Holdings Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG are also among the sponsors of the event, according to its website. Companies around the world that do business in the US have faced a dilemma in dealing with the abrupt about-face on the issue. Read: Trump Has Companies in Europe and Asia Walking a DEI Tightrope Trump has vowed to stamp out diversity policies across the board, saying they are illegal and have disastrous consequences. In response, Citigroup Inc. withdrew its ambitious DEI goals and other U.S. financial firms have made adjustments. Ogino said he doesn't necessarily oppose the anti-DEI movement in the US, but that he thinks it's 'important to recognize that there are people with different viewpoints and work together within an organization.' 'I believe we should acknowledge such diversity, recognize the differences between ourselves and others, and work together while respecting each other,' he said. Daiwa earned less than 7% of its ordinary profit last fiscal year through businesses in the Americas as a whole. Japanese automakers Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Co. rolled back some initiatives in the US last year after pressure from conservative activists like Robby Starbuck. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. erased references to DEI from its American websites, but the Japanese company left its international websites untouched, describing the US changes as part of a global digital restructure 'after many months of planning.' A survey by the Mainichi newspaper published in March found 83% of Japanese companies who responded agreed that DEI initiatives are necessary to secure talent. With assistance from Takashi Nakamichi. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India.com
17 hours ago
- India.com
Govt Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties On Vitamin A, Rubber Chemical Imports From China, Japan, EU
New Delhi: The Union government has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Vitamin-A Palmitate and insoluble sulphur -- a crucial rubber additive -- on China, Japan, Switzerland, and the European Union (EU). The Ministry of Finance, in a notification on June 6, issued the anti-dumping duties for a period of five years unless it is cancelled or revised. It aims to protect domestic manufacturers from low-priced imports that affect the local industry. The move follows an investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) which revealed that the price of Vitamin-A Palmitate imported by these countries was lower than the normal value. The DGTR also noted 'material injury' to domestic producers of Vitamin-A Palmitate due to large-scale dumping from China, the EU, and Switzerland. The compound, commonly used in small quantities, remains heavily import-dependent in India. While Vitamin-A Palmitate is used in pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics, insoluble sulphur plays a key role in the rubber industry, majorly in tyre manufacturing. The anti-dumping duties, effective immediately must be paid in Indian rupees based on the exchange rate. It is expected to prevent unfair trade practices and protect local industries. According to the notification, the duties for Vitamin-A Palmitate, range from $0.87 to $20.87 per kg; The highest duty has been imposed on Chinese exporters other than Shangyu NHU BioChem, which will face a lower rate of $14.95/kg. Swiss producer DSM Nutritional Products will attract a duty of $0.87/kg, while other Swiss exporters will face $8.2/kg. A flat rate of $11.09/kg will apply to imports from the EU, the notification stated. Further, depending on the exporter, the duties on insoluble sulphur will range from $259 to $358 per metric tonne. Chinese imports will face a flat duty of $307/MT. Among Japanese companies, Shikoku Chemicals will be charged $259/MT, while all other Japanese exporters will face the maximum rate of $358/MT, the notification said.
