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 is working at the Japanese company Denso, which is a subsidiary of the Toyota Group. From then on, Hara started working for develop a barcode system.[6] In 1992, in Denso's developing department (later Denso Wave), Hara had 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]
"Hosei Alumnus, Masahire Hara invented QR code (1994) Denso Cp. Ltd. Graduated from Hosei University in 1980
This all changed in the early '90s at Denso Wave, a subsidiary of Toyota. An engineer called Masahiro Hara was tasked with creating a barcode that could hold more information than the existing format. His solution was the Quick Response (QR) code...