6 min read
08 Oct
08Oct

The Anatomy of a QR-H (Quick Response - Human)

This sculpture was inspired by the theme of all things space aged. To me that meant advancement of technology. My thought-processes and research lead me to an interesting discovery of barcodes and QR Codes, and their history. It jogged an early memory of religious conspiracy theories about barcodes and the 666, or mark of the beast, and the doom that it will supposedly bring with it. 

Today, having lived with barcodes since the late 40’s it is hard to remember a time before them. It occurred to me that their anatomies could be related to humans and how we ‘work’…. and down the rabbit hole I went. 

I wanted my sculpture to be human and interactive and for the viewer to connect with her. But being inspired by technology I realised that it could require reams of paper to relay her message, which would have defeated the purpose. Instead, I created a QR code which can be found on the space-aged sunglasses. We all view the world differently and when people interact with us, they ‘scan’ and analyse and read us for our messages too. Those things that are unsaid and can’t be seen with the naked eye. She also says: ‘I am more; more than a number, more than meets the eye and more than just a code.’

In the next few paragraphs I will elaborate on this by using the Anatomy of a QR code as my guide. 


What We See 

To the naked eye the QR image seems distorted, but it has unique hidden data and messages. The more information it holds the more complex the code and therefore the image. It consists of a pixelated matrix of black and white, but a colourful background can be embedded. Up to 30% of the code’s structure can be damaged without it affecting its readability. 

All this reminded me of how humans work. What and how people see or experience us is sometimes completely different to who and what we are, as well as the messages we are trying to send. The more experience we’ve had (good or bad) the more complex we become. We live in a world that expects of us to be black and white, sometimes in the colour of our skin, but mostly in the parameters by which we ought to live our lives. We are not though; we are colourful and unique (see the colourful flowers in the background). We are puzzles (pixels) consisting of many puzzle pieces. Sometimes our experiences are life altering and damages us, but we continue to be ‘readable’ as we continue in life. 

I have highlighted a few of the unique anatomy markers of a QR code as it relates to people. Can you identify them on my sculpture?


Positioning Detection Markers

Located at three corners of each code (marked in red); it allows a scanner to accurately detect, identify and read the image. 

In humans this probably relates to our body language and how we read others. Trying to find anchors and connection.


Alignment Markings

These markings are smaller than the Positioning Detection Markers and they help straighten out the code when it is drawn on a curved surface. The more information the QR code stores, the more complex the image and therefore the more alignment markings it requires. Marked in yellow.

In life we often encounter a curve on our own path, and it is our own ‘guides’ that ‘straighten’ us out. These guides could take the form of mentorship, past experiences, love, or our own goals. Could this perhaps be our True North? Keeping us aligned with our purpose? 


Timing Patterns   

Alternating dark and light modules on the QR code, and indicated in black and blue here. Its purpose is to tell the scanner the size of the matrix. 

Light and Dark. To me Light is a symbol of life, a feeling of happiness, living prosperously and carefree, and perhaps being in perfect harmony with oneself and the world around us. Darkness to me is the absence of that, but necessary for reflection, growth and harmony in the end. We oscillate between them throughout our lives. Could it be that our inner scanners’ health and our alignment markings determine which side wins? 


Version Information 

These markers specify which one of the 40 different version of the QR code is being used. Marked in Purple.

As people we all have different versions of ourselves. People might remember us very differently from school as they do from University or work, or even out of town family for that matter. We become different people as we grow, experience life and mature, but is our core version essentially the same throughout our lives?  


Format Information 

Indicated as black bars. These patterns include the information about error tolerance and data mask pattern, to simplify the scan of the code. 

Error tolerance…. tolerance for error. This made me wonder, and then smile. Could these be our worry-lines, our frown-lines, or even our laugh-lines? People ‘scan’ our faces and get a read on us and based on their initial (perception) assessment engage or disengage. Or could it be our inbuilt ability to accommodate for accidental or unintended actions or errors. The undo button so to speak. The ‘I Am Sorry’, ‘Let’s Try Again’, or the ‘Forget It Ever Happened’.  


Data and error correction keys 

This is where the data is shown. It shares space with the error correction blocks that allows up to 30% of the Code to be damaged without effecting the readability of the code. Marked as grey.

Any life is a life of change. Some happens due to planning and is filled with excitement, and some is unexpected, life changing and could even be damaging. But despite this we are able to carry on, build resilience, heal, and still be ‘readable’ enough to share our hidden messages.   


Quiet Zone 

 The quiet zone is vital. This is the white/blank space that helps to scan programs to differentiate between the code and the surroundings.

Indicated in Green. The word VITAL stood out to me, and I felt that this Quiet Zone should be positioned where a human's heart is located. With information at the tap of a finger it has become 'vital' for our mental well-being to find some quiet, to reconnect with ourselves, and to take a breather from the noise around us, but also to take stock and realign.  


Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I hope that when you start to notice the QR codes as you move through life, that it will remind you of your own story, your own hidden messages, and also of the unseen information and stories of those around you.


Did you know?The barcode evolved from Morse Code as a principle in 1948, but it wasn’t until 1974 that it was refined and implemented as a way of stock control in bigger retail stores in Ohio, USA. Fast-forward to 1994 and the QR code (Quick Response code) is born. A QR code is a type of two-dimensional (2D) barcode that is used to provide easy access to online information through the digital camera on a smartphone or tablet. It was designed to allow for fast coding and high-speed reading.A barcode’s patterns of black and white striped ink hold data which once scanned with a specific device reveals an otherwise hidden message or information. The same principle is applied to the more recent (1994) development of QR codes (Quick Response codes). 



Inspired by the Open Call To Art - Rupert Museum  

https://arttimes.co.za/at-feature-in-motion-new-exhibition-art-of-the-space-age-at-rupert-museum/