A Powerful New 'QR Code' Untangles Math's Knottiest Knots
quantamagazine.org
quantamagazine.org
Which I not only mentioned in my comment, it is not even slightly unique to QR codes.
> they look kinda like QR codes
In what way? QR Codes are black and white, square, and asymmetrical. These are colourful, hexagonal, and symmetrical. By that token, a 16th century tile also “looks kinda like a QR Code”.
I very much doubt you could show one of these to someone, ask them what they are, and that they would answer “QR Code”. They don’t look alike at all.
It is strong, but not 1 to 1:
> Tubbenhauer computed, for instance, that the invariant uniquely identifies more than 97% of the knots with 18 crossings.
Hexagonal, with shaded colors? QR Codes are, by definition, square and binary and traditionally use black and white. They're also used for a different purpose typically. They could easily have made them look more like QR Codes if they had wanted to, but they made their own artistic choices. Which I love btw, but they could have maybe chosen better wording. Something like 'fingerprint' or 'mugshot' would have conveyed the idea of it being useful for identification, if not perfect, much better.
A QR codes encode data to be scanned and converted for the convenience of the user.
These knot graphics encode data to be scanned and converted for the convenience of the user.
These appear to be write-only. Where have they documented the method of scanning and conversion? Is it patented?
The publication on arxiv only mentions visual inspection, in the context of being a bad idea.
However, what they're doing is art. They are algorithmically generating beautiful artwork that can be admired for its colors, labyrinthine complexity, near-symmetry, shapes and analogy to real-world or theoretical knots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_knot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan#Legal_protection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal_art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moir%C3%A9_pattern
They have not proposed any way of scanning or processing the art back into data, and in fact they point out that printing, display, visual inspection or comparison may not produce mathematically accurate results, so this is representational art that they can emblazon on their mugs, sugar cookies, tee shirts, and sell on Etsy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_art
In fact Dr. Bar-Natan has done a lot of work in perceptual art that looks like another thing: https://www.math.toronto.edu/drorbn/papers/PDI/
But he calls it "PDI" and not "Magic Eye™"
The fault of naming "qr codez®" doesn't rest solely on the latest researchers, but they are "standing on the shoulders of giants" who generated "bar c0des", which may have started with some colored pencils, a cocktail napkin, and 3 pints in a pub.
The text QR Code® itself is a registered trademark and wordmark of Denso Wave Incorporated.
The text QR Code itself is a registered trademark and wordmark of Denso Wave Incorporated.[107]
https://www.qrcode.com/en/faq.html
https://greatreachinc.com/blog/one-thing-about-qr-codes-you-...
Should “QR Code” be capitalized?
Yes. “QR Code” must always be capitalized: both letters in “QR” and the “C” in “Code.” The registered trademark symbol (®) should follow the term in published materials. Using lowercase, adding an “s,” or other variations does not exempt you from the trademark.“Whoa! Some article said this mail app is an ‘Outlook’ for TempleOS! Better call the Microsoft lawyers.”
No, you’re allowed to compare products and ideas and mention their trademarked names without fear of legal issues.
Did the researchers name these “QR codes?”
Yes.