QR Codes

QR codes were invented in 1994 by engineer Masahiro Hara, working for a Japanese company called Denso Wave.

Their original purpose was tracking car parts in manufacturing, and the design was intended to be read quickly from any angle — QR stands for Quick Response.

They remained relatively niche in everyday life in the United States and Europe for many years. Then smartphones made scanning easy and as an intended consequence, their use began to appeal to marketers and entertainers.

The pandemic then accelerated adoption dramatically, particularly through QR-code restaurant menus and contactless services.

You can find out (a lot) more at Wikipedia.