Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Volume1, Issue 5, December 2013 ISSN:

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1 Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies Volume1, Issue 5, December 2013 ISSN: Available online at Quick Response Codes (QRC) : An Overview Mukta Garg 1 and Ved Singh 2 1 Librarian, Lakshya College of Management and Technology, Moradabad 2 Librarian, BCIPS, Dwarka, New Delhi Abstract: This paper aims to present an overview of Quick Response Codes and its possible applications. Here we discuss how quick response code technology can be used in different spheres and its different users. Here we will discuss what QR code is, standards and its application as well as its usefulness. Keywords Quick Response Codes, QR, QR applications, QR in libraries. Introduction Increasing use of mobiles and smart phones in everyone s life has gained new heights and attain several applications and technologies for flexibility for use and apply them in their relevant field. Same u can see the impact of available technologies in the atmosphere of academic libraries. Libraries, being the hub of information, now touching new heights in using technologies. They are applying new technologies and providing flexible services as well as providing a comfortable environment for the end-users. In last decade we all have seen the increasing use of bar codes on products, groceries, machines, books and on almost everything. Increasing use of smart phones and new applications compatible to new devices came. Quick Response codes (QR Codes) are one of them which are more popular comparatively to other applications due to its easy to install and use feature with smart phones. Quick Response Codes Quick Response Code (QR code) is a two dimensional symbol or can say it is a type of matrix barcode which was invented in 1994 by DENSO, a Toyota group of companies. It is approved by ISO international standard (ISO/IEC/18004) in June QR Codes are open to create and use for both personal and commercial use as its copyrights are waived by its patent holder Denso wave. They clearly state- DENSO WAVE wish QR Code to be used by as many people as possible. This is the reason why we made its specifications publicly available. We have waived the rights to a patent in its possession (Patent No ) for standardized QR Codes only. (DENSO WAVE, 2013). There are several types of 2D codes in use by the industry, one of which is QR Code. (Soon, 2008). Now QR codes are popular and can be seen anywhere worldwide. It is optically machine readable label that is attached to an item and that records information related to that specific item. Figure 1 - QR code image for simple text containing - QR codes uses in academic libraries QR codes are popular due to its readability and greater storage capacity compared to barcodes. Increased popularity is due to some reason as QR code proves its usefulness over the linear bar code. It can be used by anybody as it is free to create and use and moreover personal use as well as commercially as Denso has released the patent into the public domain. Data structure standard is not prerequisite for current usages. Mobiles phones with camera with internet access address automatically by simply reading a URL encoded in the QR code. Anyone can create their own QR codes for different things like product information, address, URL link, on visiting cards and there is no limitation of its use as it depends on the choice of its user what they want to print using QR code. QR code is a matrix symbol which has been developed as the one enabling all of high capacity PDF417, high density printing of data matrix and high speed reading of maxi code. 1

2 Two dimensional data have more data than linear symbols (approx. 100 times more), and they require much more longer data processing that is the reason QR codes needs much more high speed devices to read it. There 40 versions of QR code and each version has a different module configuration and number of modules. Module refers to the number of white and black dots which make up QR code. For example version 1 has 21 x 21 modules and version 40 has 177 x 177 modules. The version of QR code can be determined by numeral type of data. As the amount of data increase, more modules are required to comprise QR code. QR Code Standards There are several standards that cover the encoding of data October 1997 Association for automatic identification and mobility international January 1999 Approved as (JIS X 0510) Japanese Industrial Standard June 2000 Approved as ISO/IEC 18004: 2000 (now withdrawn) September 2006 ISO/IEC 18004:2006 (Information Technology Automatic identification and data capture techniques - QR Code 2005 bar code symbology specification) November 2004 Micro QR code is approved as JIS X 0510 December 2011 Approved by GS1, an international standardization organization, as a standard for mobile phones QR Code Features High Encoding of Data - QR code is capable of handling several dozen to several hundred times more information comparative to conventional bar codes. Small Printout Size - QR codes carries information both horizontally and vertically, and capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately 1 / 10 th in comparison of barcode. Kanji and Kana capability - Its Figure symbology 3 is developed Small printout Japan, it size is capable of encoding JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) level 1 & 2 Kanji character set (Japanese script). Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(5) December,

3 Figure 4 Kanji & kana capability Dirt & Damage resistant - QR code has error correction. Data can be restored even if the symbol is dirty or partially damaged. A maximum of 30% of codewords can be restored. A codeword in QR is a unit that constructs the data area which is equal to 8 bits. The data restoration depends on the amount of dirt or damage. It may be possible that it will not recover full data as it may be out of its correction limit. It is one of the strong features of QR code which makes it popular and safer than barcode. This error correction feature is implemented by adding a Reed-Solomon Code, a mathematical error correction method, to the original data. There are Figure 4 levels of 5 correction Damage for users resistant to choose according to the operating environment which is from 7% to 30% approximately. Readable Flexibility - QR code is capable of 360 degree (Omni-directional), high speed reading. QR accomplishes this task through position detection patterns located at the three corners of the symbol. These position detection patterns guarantee stable high speed reading, circumventing the negative effects of background interference. Figure 6 Readable flexibility Structured Appending - QR code can be divided into multiple data areas. Information stored in multiple QR code symbols can be reconstructed as a single data symbol. One data symbol can be divided into up to 16 symbols, allowing printing in a narrow area. Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(5) December,

4 Figure 7 Structured appending Creativity with QR Codes Anyone can create and use QR codes as per their own choice. For example if some wants to get it print on their visiting card, make its fore color or Background color other than black and white then they can do it easily. Many applications and website are available for same. With custom QR codes anyone can create this code in few seconds as many applications are available on internet which provides custom creation of QR code such as you can create for logo, and add , phone numbers, vcard, MeCard, for location or for Facebook address and many more things. Figure 8 generating customized QR Code QR Code Scanners There are variety of QR code reader such as handy scanners, handy terminals and fixed scanners as well. Figure 9 - Handy Scanner and handy terminals for QR codes Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(5) December,

5 Reading QR code can be done using mobile phone and smart phone, Google s Android, BlackBerry OS and Apple ios devices and tablet but its reading capability depends upon the phone camera s capability. Windows Phone 7.5 is able to scan QR codes through Bing search application while BlackBerry 10 devices have a native QR reader. DENSO WAVE also provides applications to read QR for iphone and ipad. (DENSO WAVE, 2013). Where QR codes can be used QR codes can be used in almost every field like manufacturing, at warehouse, in retail sales, medical field and in service sector. For example it can be used in food industry to add information like production date, place of origin, weight, and lot number as well as can be used in keeping patient s test reports and patient history to as well in medicine preparation instructions matching with medicine prepared. QR codes can be used to log in into websites. See some real life images of products and logos using QR code Figure 10 QR code on Frooti bottle Figure 11 QR code on UGC certificate Figure 13 QR Code on product Figure 12 QR code on notebook Range of using QR code is so vast that one cannot count it. Its use includes from inventory management to the service sector as well. QR codes can be introduce in any organization very easily as it comprise only two things that are software and printer to generate QR code and second a scanner and application program to read QR codes. For personal use anyone can use their mobiles phones with camera and internet to scan QR code and can generate them using internet and websites available instantly. Conclusion In this whole overview we saw that as comparison to bar code QR codes came up with easy to use and install feature and with much more flexibility. Its high capacity of encoding, error correction ability are new for users and hence got the attention. Its availability to read using blackberry and smart phones makes it popular among organizations to keep QR codes on their packaging and on top it is freely available for all to create and use commercially and personally as well. A variety of things can be done with QR codes like creating logos, s, SMS, can be used as login id and some more to use with QR codes. Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(5) December,

6 References ISO/IEC (2009). Information Technology Automatic identification and data capture techniques - QR Code 2005 bar code symbology specification. Retrieved on October 29, 2013 from DENSO-WAVE. (2013). Retrieved on October 30, 2013 from QR Code (2008). Synthesis Journal. Information Technology Standard Committee. P Retrieved on October 29, 2013 from Walsh, A. (2010). QR Codes using mobile phones to deliver library instruction and help at the point of need. Journal of Information Literacy. Vol. 4, P Sahu, Suraj Kumar, Gonnade, Sandeep Kumar. (2013). QR Code and Application in India. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering. Vol. 2, P Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 1(5) December,