二維條碼（或QR碼）是一種矩陣條碼，最早由日本的汽車零組件大廠電裝公司（Denso Wave）工程師原昌宏於1994年發明。與傳統的一維條碼不同，二維條碼能夠在水平和垂直方向上儲存大量數據，並且可以更快速、準確地被掃描儀器識別。由於其能夠承載更多的信息，且可以用於追蹤產品、付款、網站鏈接等各種應用，QR碼已廣泛應用於商業領域。

中國二維條碼的普及得益於數個關鍵因素。首先，智慧手機的迅速普及使得二維條碼掃描變得容易，尤其是在支付場景中。隨著移動支付平台（如微信支付和支付寶）的興起，二維碼迅速成為當地消費者的首選支付方式。這些平台使用二維碼進行快速、安全的交易，取代現金和信用卡。

此外，政府和商業機構的積極推動也對二維碼的普及起到重要作用。許多中小型商家，尤其是小吃攤或街頭攤販，採用二維碼支付，因為它不需要昂貴的POS機，降低技術門檻。這樣的低成本、高效益的模式迅速擴展到中國的各個行業。

相比之下，日本和歐美地區的二維條碼普及速度相對緩慢。儘管QR碼最早誕生於日本，但日本人仍然依賴現金交易，在購買低價的商品，才比較會用小額的電子錢包消費，移動支付和無現金支付方式的滲透率相對較低。而在歐美，信用卡和NFC（近場通信）技術的成熟與普及，加上注重個人隱私，不希望個人資料或習慣被掌握，使得消費者對二維碼支付的需求相對較小。

二維條碼的優點在於其高效率、低成本和廣泛應用範圍。與傳統條碼相比，二維條碼可以儲存更多的信息，包括文字、網址、甚至是加密數據。其讀取速度快，能夠迅速完成交易或存取信息，並且易於生成和使用。對於企業而言，它提供一種簡單、有效的方式來跟蹤商品、傳遞促銷信息，或進行互動式廣告。對消費者來說，它能方便地用於支付、獲取信息、下載應用或參與促銷活動。

然而，二維條碼也有一些局限性。首先，對於需要高安全性的應用場景，它可能不如其他技術（如NFC或生物識別技術）安全。由於二維碼信息是公開可見的，惡意用戶可以生成假二維碼，進行釣魚攻擊或欺詐行為。此外，二維條碼的讀取仍然依賴於攝像頭的質量和環境光線，這可能會影響其在某些場景下的使用效果。

總的來說，二維條碼在中國的成功推廣是多種因素的結果，包括政府鼓勵政策、科技發展、商業需求和消費習慣的變化。儘管在全球範圍內，二維條碼未必取代其他技術，但它在特定市場和應用場景中的優勢是明顯的，特別是其方便性和低成本的特徵使其在中國取得顯著的成功。

A two-dimensional barcode (or QR code) is a type of matrix barcode, first invented by Masahiro Hara, an engineer at Denso Wave, a major Japanese automotive parts manufacturer, in 1994. Unlike traditional one-dimensional barcodes, QR codes can store a large amount of data both horizontally and vertically, and can be scanned more quickly and accurately by scanning devices. Due to their ability to carry more information and their wide range of applications such as product tracking, payments, and website links, QR codes have become widely used in commercial fields.

The widespread adoption of QR codes in China is due to several key factors. First, the rapid proliferation of smartphones made QR code scanning easy, especially in payment scenarios. With the rise of mobile payment platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay, QR codes quickly became the preferred payment method for local consumers. These platforms enable fast and secure transactions using QR codes, replacing cash and credit cards.

Additionally, the active promotion by both government and businesses played a crucial role in the spread of QR codes. Many small and medium-sized businesses, particularly food stalls or street vendors, adopted QR code payments because they do not require expensive POS systems, lowering the technological barrier. This low-cost, high-efficiency model quickly expanded to various industries in China.

In contrast, the adoption of QR codes in Japan and Western countries has been relatively slow. Although the QR code originated in Japan, people there still rely on cash transactions and tend to use small electronic wallets only for low-cost purchases. Mobile and cashless payment methods have a relatively low penetration rate. In Western countries, the maturity and widespread use of credit cards and NFC (near-field communication) technology, combined with concerns about personal privacy and not wanting personal data or habits to be tracked, have reduced the demand for QR code payments.

The advantages of QR codes include high efficiency, low cost, and a wide range of applications. Compared to traditional barcodes, QR codes can store more information, including text, URLs, and even encrypted data. They have fast reading speeds, allowing for quick transactions or data access, and are easy to generate and use. For businesses, QR codes offer a simple and effective way to track products, convey promotional information, or run interactive advertising. For consumers, they can be conveniently used for payments, obtaining information, downloading apps, or participating in promotional activities.

However, QR codes also have some limitations. For high-security applications, they may not be as secure as other technologies like NFC or biometric systems. Since QR code information is visible to the public, malicious users can create fake QR codes for phishing attacks or fraud. Furthermore, QR code scanning still depends on the quality of the camera and environmental lighting, which can affect its performance in certain situations.

In summary, the successful promotion of QR codes in China is the result of multiple factors, including government encouragement, technological development, business needs, and changes in consumer habits. While QR codes may not replace other technologies globally, their advantages in specific markets and applications are evident, particularly their convenience and low cost, which have led to remarkable success in China.

照片:DALLE3