Some of you may have noticed that today 10/7/2009 the Google logo on Google’s homepage is a barcode.
On this day in 1952, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver were issued the first patent for a barcode-like product. However, the barcode was not the normal symbol you would see today. It can only be described as a bulls-eye made up of a series of concentric circles(see below).
The barcode as we know it was not used commercially until 1966. By 1970 the Universal Grocery Products Identification Code or UGPIC was created to standaradize the identifiaction system. June of 1974 marked the beginning of UPC scanners in retail stores. The first scanner was installed in Troy, Ohio at a Marsh’s supermarket. One of the first items to be scanned was a pack of Wrigley’s Gum
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Posted: Oct 7th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Thanks for clearing this up. I saw the barcode on the Google home page and didn’t know what it meant!
Interesting that it’s the barcode’s anniversary because I’ve actually been required to scan them for the first time in my life only recently. I went to a supermarket in Sydney and was shocked to see that all the checkout staff had been replaced by self service units. One staff member was left and she showed us how to scan our own items and pay for them.
I can see why they’re doing it this way. It’s probably quicker and certainly more profitable for the supermarket. I do feel sorry for all the staff who have been made redundant though …
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Posted: Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:33 am
Great post!KeywordLuv is so helpful!
Posted: Jan 22nd, 2010 at 5:01 am
Thanks for the post. its very much new for me.i never thought that bar code can have a discover history well!