2D barcodes do require a specific type of scanner called a 2D Imager. The common laser barcode scanner reads codes by reflecting light from the black and white lines of a barcode and since the laser is a single line it only reads horizontally across the barcode. And an imager takes a picture of the barcode and analyzes this to decode the information. But since 2D barcode data are organized vertically and horizontally only an imager can properly decode all the information.