Loading AI tools
Japanese inventor of QR code From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Masahiro Hara (Japanese: 原 昌宏, Hepburn: Hara Masahiro, born 1957) is a Japanese engineer and Hosei University graduate who is best known for inventing the QR code in 1994.[1][2]
Masahiro Hara | |
---|---|
原 昌宏 | |
Born | 1957 |
Nationality | Japanese |
Alma mater | Hosei University |
Known for | Inventing the QR code |
Awards | European Inventor Award |
Hara was born in Tokyo in 1957.[3] He studied in the department of electric and electronic engineering at Hosei University.[1][4] He graduated in 1980.[5]
After graduating from Hosei University, Hara was working at the Japanese company Denso, which is a subsidiary of the Toyota Group. From then on, Hara started working to develop a barcode system.[6] In 1992, in Denso's developing department (later Denso Wave), Hara had been given a task to develop a new 2D code system that is capable of productively tracking components used in the automotive industry, thus started a new project.[7][8][9][10] One day at work, over a lunchtime game of go, he recognized the game's black and white pattern could be used to encode information.[6] He also made an investigation on publications to seek a unique proportion for the position pattern to make sure that readers could be able to identify.[11] The code was introduced in 1994.[12]
In 2021, QR codes were being used to book and track COVID-19 tests and contact tracing.[6] Hara has stated that he would like to develop QR codes for additional medical purposes, including imaging such as x-rays or electrocardiogram data.[2] Hara still works for Denso as of 2022.[1]
Hara was the chief engineer and advisor for a Japan International Cooperation Agency's "School For All" program to improve education in Niger.[13][14]
In 2014, he and the inventors of the QR code development team were awarded the European Inventor Award.[17]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.