Which game inspired the design?

Go, with black and white stones

Why can logos sit in the middle of QR codes?

Error correction fills in hidden parts

QR Code Design Quiz: Finder Squares, Go Stones and Damage

This qr code design quiz scans a square of black and white modules. Play 10 interactive questions on Denso Wave's 1994 creation for tracking car parts, engineer Masahiro Hara and the Go board that inspired him, the three finder squares, error correction that lets damaged codes still scan, logos placed in the middle, the quiet zone, versions from 21 by 21 modules upward and a free patent.

Start QR Code Design Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Who
Which company created the QR code?
Year
When was the QR code created?
Hara
Which engineer led its development?
Go
Which game inspired the design?
Finder
What helps scanners find a QR code's position?
EC
Why can a damaged QR code still scan?
Logo
Why can logos sit in the middle of QR codes?
Quiet
What is the blank margin around a QR code called?
Size
How many modules wide is the smallest standard QR code?
Free
How did Denso Wave handle its patent?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which company created the QR code?
Answer: Denso Wave
It is part of the Toyota group.
Q2: When was the QR code created?
Answer: 1994
It tracked car parts.
Q3: Which engineer led its development?
Answer: Masahiro Hara
He wanted fast scanning.
Q4: Which game inspired the design?
Answer: Go, with black and white stones
He noticed patterns on a board.
Q5: What helps scanners find a QR code's position?
Answer: Three square finder patterns
They sit in three corners.
Q6: Why can a damaged QR code still scan?
Answer: Error correction
Up to about 30 percent can be restored.
Q7: Why can logos sit in the middle of QR codes?
Answer: Error correction fills in hidden parts
Too large a logo breaks it.
Q8: What is the blank margin around a QR code called?
Answer: The quiet zone
It helps scanners separate it.
Q9: How many modules wide is the smallest standard QR code?
Answer: 21
Larger versions hold more data.
Q10: How did Denso Wave handle its patent?
Answer: It chose not to enforce it
That helped QR codes spread.

Finder Squares and Go Stones

The QR code was created in 1994 by Denso Wave, part of the Toyota group, to track car parts quickly. Engineer Masahiro Hara led the work and was inspired by the black and white stones on a Go board. QR stands for quick response.

Three square finder patterns in the corners help scanners find the code's position and angle from any direction. Error correction means a damaged or dirty code can still scan, restoring up to about 30 percent at the highest level. That is also why logos can sit in the middle, though too large a logo breaks the code.

A blank margin called the quiet zone separates the code from its surroundings. The smallest standard version is 21 by 21 modules, and larger versions hold more data. Denso Wave chose not to enforce its patent, helping QR codes spread worldwide on menus, tickets and payments.

What This Quiz Teaches

Tech fans will enjoy these questions.

Who created QR codes
What inspired them
What finder squares do
How error correction works
Why they spread

Did You Know?

QR codes can hold website addresses.
Smartphone cameras read them directly.
Micro QR codes exist for tiny spaces.
Colors work if contrast is strong.
Payments by QR are common in Asia.