Barcodes are now seen in many places being used by various industries and businesses. Initially barcodes were used only for retail purposes. Later they emerged for use in many fields. As barcodes are accurate, easy to use, and provide uniform data collection and timely feedback, more and more businesses have started to use them to improve productivity and profitability. They are widely used in manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, retail, transportation and many other industries. Barcode technology is quite commonly used for asset management and tracking, healthcare, construction, and document management. But there was a time before barcodes. The origin of barcode systems dates back to 1932. Since then, many changes have taken places that have shaped the systems that are used currently. But mostly the old system has been working for decades longer than it’s counterpart technology.
The concept of barcodes was first started by Wallace Flint in 1932. He invented an automated checkout system for a grocery store using punched cards, which were placed in a reader. Inventory records were updated with this system.
Later in 1948, Bernard Silver along with his friend Norman Joseph Woodland researched a method that can automatically read product information. An ultraviolet light sensitive ink was used, which made patterns of ink that would glow under ultraviolet light. However, the method failed due to instability and expensive printing patterns.
In 1949, a patent was filed by them, titled as "Classifying Apparatus and Method." A symbol made up of series of concentric circles was used by them. However, a description was given on the semiotics of the current linear barcodes, which of course made a difference in how they were processed.
In 1967, David J. Collins founded Computer Identics Corporation and developed a black and white barcode system read by a laser beam. This system was used for distribution, production, shipping, sorting, and other applications. Later in 1967, one of the first scanning systems was installed by Radio Corporation of America (RCA) which used “bull's eye” barcode symbols.
John F. Keidel invented the first commercially successful barcode reading system in 1969. The Universal Grocery Products Identification Code or UGPIC was developed in 1970. In 1970, barcodes were used for retail trade for the first time by Monarch Marking. The system was applied for industrial use for the first time by Plessey Telecommunications.
In the 1970's, the US Supermarket Ad Hoc Committee of Uniform Grocery Product Code was established by The National Association of Food Chains (NAFC) which formulated a standardized 12-digit code. In 1973, the UGPIC was turned to Uniform Product Code (UPC) by George J. Laurer.
The first UPC barcode scanner was made in 1974 by NCR Corp. and was installed at Marsh's supermarket in Troy. Wrigley's chewing gum was the first product that was scanned by barcode scanner in the supermarket.
Ever since the 1970’s barcode printing has been essentially the same across the board. It is a system that has been so perfected that adjustments are no longer necessary. Eventually a better system will be discovered if human nature has anything to say about it. But for now the barcode is here to stay.
The concept of barcodes was first started by Wallace Flint in 1932. He invented an automated checkout system for a grocery store using punched cards, which were placed in a reader. Inventory records were updated with this system.
Later in 1948, Bernard Silver along with his friend Norman Joseph Woodland researched a method that can automatically read product information. An ultraviolet light sensitive ink was used, which made patterns of ink that would glow under ultraviolet light. However, the method failed due to instability and expensive printing patterns.
In 1949, a patent was filed by them, titled as "Classifying Apparatus and Method." A symbol made up of series of concentric circles was used by them. However, a description was given on the semiotics of the current linear barcodes, which of course made a difference in how they were processed.
In 1967, David J. Collins founded Computer Identics Corporation and developed a black and white barcode system read by a laser beam. This system was used for distribution, production, shipping, sorting, and other applications. Later in 1967, one of the first scanning systems was installed by Radio Corporation of America (RCA) which used “bull's eye” barcode symbols.
John F. Keidel invented the first commercially successful barcode reading system in 1969. The Universal Grocery Products Identification Code or UGPIC was developed in 1970. In 1970, barcodes were used for retail trade for the first time by Monarch Marking. The system was applied for industrial use for the first time by Plessey Telecommunications.
In the 1970's, the US Supermarket Ad Hoc Committee of Uniform Grocery Product Code was established by The National Association of Food Chains (NAFC) which formulated a standardized 12-digit code. In 1973, the UGPIC was turned to Uniform Product Code (UPC) by George J. Laurer.
The first UPC barcode scanner was made in 1974 by NCR Corp. and was installed at Marsh's supermarket in Troy. Wrigley's chewing gum was the first product that was scanned by barcode scanner in the supermarket.
Ever since the 1970’s barcode printing has been essentially the same across the board. It is a system that has been so perfected that adjustments are no longer necessary. Eventually a better system will be discovered if human nature has anything to say about it. But for now the barcode is here to stay.