QR Code aids in Japan Crises Relief
- QR Code aids in Japan earthquake relief
Some type of sub-title - Group Project done by Xia Deng, Jordan Leigh, Zakia Nakad, Patrick McEnteeContent:
- Technology Description on QR Code
- Business Benefit of QR Code (Japanese Red Cross Society)
- Appendices
- Bibliography
- ITEC 200-002 Group 2G (Jordan Leigh, Patrick McEntee, Zakia Nakad, Xia Deng)
ITR Draft
March 29, 2011
QR CODES: The Japanese Red Cross – Using QR codes to aid in disaster reliefTECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The QR code, which is short for Quick Response Code, is a two dimensional matrix code
developed in 1994 by Japanese manufacturing company Denso Wave as a means of efficiently
tracking inventory (Denso Wave Incorporated). QR codes can be decoded by a scanning device
at quick speeds and with precise accuracy making them a natural fit for the manufacturing
industry. QR codes enhance the speed of a company or organization by having information
within the matrix of the code. Speaking from a technical perspective, QR codes have large
capacity, small size and easy scan.
Most barcodes utilize only one direction to store data; however QR codes are capable of
storing information both horizontally and vertically allowing QR codes to hold substantially
more information than a normal barcode (App 6).
“A QR code is capable of holding up to 7,089 numeric characters, 4,296 alphanumeric
characters, or 2,953 bytes of binary.” (Rouillard 2). This allows for long strings of data or even
lengthy website URLs to be embedded into a QR code’s unique matrix. “A scanner will use the
three outside squares to identify the edge of the barcode, properly align it, and then scan the data
within (Rouillard 2)” (App 7). QR codes have no proper orientation and can be scanned from any
angle. They are also unique in the error correction capability they possess. “QR codes are created
with non-binary error correcting codes that allows for data to be restored even when parts of the
code are destroyed or damaged” (Rouillard 2), which is a major difference from that of a regular
barcode. If the regular barcode was damaged, none of the information can be presented when
scanned.
Decoding a QR code is impossible to do manually and requires the combination of a
scanner capable of imaging the barcode, and the proper software to decode it. While specific QR
scanners do exist, the most common way to read a QR code is through the use of a mobile phone
or PDA’s camera and downloadable QR decoding software. In fact the use of mobile phones to
read QR codes is so popular in Japan, that a study in 2005 showed that “over 90% of all Japanese
mobile phone users had used their phone to decode a QR code in the past” (Rouillard 2).
The patent rights to QR codes are held by the Denso Wave corporation which chooses
not to exercise the exclusive right to use them. This allows anyone free reign to encode
information into the QR code format.
BUSINESS IMPACT
Smartphones today are widely used all over the world, which provides a social context
for any creative use of QR codes. Speaking from a business perspective, QR codes have the
advantage of being: low cost, widespread and identifiable. A number of businesses and
institutions are using QR Codes and smartphone applications, which allow users with embedded
camera phones ready access to the most relevant information with high speed scan.
We, the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS, see App 3) adopted a red cross shaped QR
code with Japan’s country contour and rescue equipments embedded (App 2). It is used to direct
people around the world to the JRCS donation page in a most relevant and identifiable way.
QR code technology is a cost efficient way of encouraging public actions for non-profit
organizations like JRCS. They can be easily created by QR code generators, which can be found
for free on various websites. The only thing we at the JRCS needed to come up with is how to
design the right visual image to customize the QR code that best communicated with our donors.
In this case, we chose the red cross.
QR code serves our mission through effective public communication and easy access to
our donation page. The unique red cross design with images like a first-aid kit and helicopters
juxtaposes the terrible disaster with the spirit of humaneness and compassion. It delivers the
message that the Japanese who are suffering from lack of food, clean water, shelters and medical
treatment need help and all donations are welcomed and appreciated (App 2). With this
motivation, people who have a smartphone can easily scan the code and donate without any
further trouble of searching.
Another good thing about QR codes is that we can print them everywhere. A good
example of this is our QR code T-shirt, which ties into our new awareness campaign, “Pray for
Japan.”(App 4). It was created not only to accumulate donations but also to inform the people
and bring the media attention to this devastation. The Canadian Red Cross came up with this
great idea of making T-shirts for us. Purchasing the T-shirt alone donates $20.00 to the natural
disaster relief. The T-shirt has a QR code that, when scanned, will take the users to our mobile
home screen page where they too can donate. Now imagine if just one person wears this T-shirt
and he or she has 10 friends with smartphones… you can do the math.
Japan has lead the way over the past four years in revolutionizing the usage of QR codes
all over the world. “In Japan, 2-D bar codes appear not only on posters and in magazines but also
T-shirts, scarves and even as art. They can even be displayed on monitor screens, allowing
people to store a web address for whatever they are looking at on a computer on their phones, for
future recall.” (The Economist). We are now stepping up and joining in on the QR code
bandwagon. The Red Cross has previously encountered numerous challenges with raising money
in a timely manner when disasters strike, and the use of QR codes is one way to do it in a quick
and efficient manner.
QR codes have been seen on all different items and locations. Japan’s advanced
technology even leads the country to have such a new high-tech way to pay for items or simply
gain knowledge. QR codes uplift companies and give them a fresh way to market their products
or messages. QR codes are being used by CNN as well in efforts to support us. They currently
have a special coverage called “Impact your world” (App 5) where they have created a QR code
that takes people to different charity pages including our relief efforts. When you scan it anyone
can find ways to donate and help out those affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in
their preferred way.
Inspired by Japanese gravestone (App 1) maker Ishi No Koe’s unique take on the QR
code technology which he uses to direct visitors to pictures, videos and other information about
the deceased (Novak), JRCS can be more innovative and differentiate the visual image of the red
cross QR code to assist disaster relief. For example, QR code can direct people to “Google
Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake,” which will help people find and keep in contact with
their relatives and friends currently in Japan. QR codes can direct people to Google Earth to get
accurate information such as which areas are still passable, and which areas are influenced by
nuclear radiation. QR codes can even be tweeted on Twitter or posted onto the JRCS Facebook
page. Social media can speed the spread of QR codes with the least cost and amplify the function
of QR code to reach more people. It helps more people quicker and more efficiently than ever
before.
Bibliography
"Bar code to 2D Code." Denso Wave Incorporated(2010): 1. Web. 27 Mar 2011.
<http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/aboutqr-e.html>.
“CNN: Impact Your World with Scan It.” CNN Video. Web. March 17, 2011.
<http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/impact.your.world/>
Erica. “Scan for Japan: Red Cross QR Code T-Shirt.” Tactica.ca. Web. March 14th,
2011.
<http://tactica.ca/design-for-japan-aceburpeeshow%E2%80%99s-red-cross-qr-code-tshirt-
on-sale-now/>
Novak, Asami. "Japanese Gravestones Memorialize the Dead With QR Codes." Wired 23 Mar
2008:
n. pag. Web. 27 Mar 2011. <http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/japanesegraves/>.
Rouillard, Jose. "Contextual QR Codes." Lille's Computer Science Laboratory (LIFL).
Laboratoire LIFL - Université de Lille 1, 27 Jul 2008. Web. 27 Mar 2011.
<http://www2.lifl.fr/~rouillar/publi/2008_Rouillard_ICCGI.pdf>.
Saravani, S.A., & Clayton, J.F. (2009). A conceptual model for the educational deployment
of QR codes. In Same places, different spaces. Proceedings ascilite Auckland 2009.
http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/procs/saravani.pdf
“Snap it, click it, use it.” The Economist. Web. August 20, 2009.
<http://www.economist.com/node/14257721>.
Susono, Hitoshi, and Tsutomu Shimomura. "Using Mobile Phones and QR Codes for Formative
Class
Assessment." Formatex (2006): 1006-1010. Web. 28 Mar 2011.
<http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.129.8360&rep=rep1&
df>.APPENDICES
1. Japanese Gravestones Memorialize the Dead With QR Codes
Japanese gravestone maker Ishi no Koe announced in 2008 that he planed to sell gravestones
with QR code embedded into them. Visitors can view photos, videos and other information about
the deceased. In addition, the gravestone with QR code can keep records each time the code was
scanned to keep family members updated when other relatives last visited the site. In the future,
Ishi no Koe plans to use this technology to develop a new way to pay respect to the deceased
without physical presence at the cemetery. The company sees this as an alternative especially
tailored to today’s younger generation. (Novak, Asami. "Japanese Gravestones Memorialize the
Dead With QR Codes." Wired 23 Mar 2008: n. pag. Web. 27 Mar 2011.
<http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/japanese-graves/>.)
2. Help Japan Now Campaign ("Help Japan Now." Help Japan Now - SET Japan. Web. 27
Mar 2011. <http://www.setjapan.com/qrcode/help-japan-now/?lang=en>.)
3. About Japanese Red Cross Society (info taken from the JRCS official website)
● Founded on 1 May 1877
● Honorary President: Her Majesty the Empress
● Executive President: Tadateru Konoe
● History
● Organizational Structure4. Pray For Japan
T-shirts created by the Canadian Red Cross for the Japanese Red Cross. They are currently
available for purchase starting at $20.00. These T-shirts are QR code scanable that leads you to
Japanese Red Cross Mobile Donation Site. You can watch a video on site on how the QR codes
work.5. Impact your world
It’s a Special coverage on CNN, that helps people find ways to take action and get updates on
impacts made through out the world. Once you scan this bar code with your phone it will direct
you to different charity pages where you or anyone can donate.6. Looking at a QR code and a barcode, you can see right away a lot more
information can be stored within the QR code. The lines on the QR code have specific reading
technique or rule. They can be read vertically or horizontally (Rouillard 2). As seen in the
barcode on the right, the lines only go vertically, this only allows for a certain number of
capacity to be presented (Rouillard 2).7. As you see from a typical looking QR code. The Code is not the entire thing just
the matrix of black and white lines and shapes within the 3 large boxes. To scan this code, the
camera must be align these 3 boxes and takes or reads the code in the middle (Rouillard 2).
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