Today, the automatic recognition of goods using barcodes has become routine and commonplace. This makes the work of both auditors and warehouse workers easier. However, this system had a long road of development.
Instructions
Step 1
For the first time, the American student Wallace Smith thought about the method of ordering and accounting of goods using a unified system. He tried to organize the work of the store by organizing purchases using special cards and a reader. But in its implementation, his idea turned out to be too expensive and unaffordable for American businessmen, who were experiencing the brunt of the Great Depression.
Step 2
Later, a graduate student of the American University, Joseph Woodland, thought about such a system. Initially, it was supposed to apply unique designations with special ink, which were to be recognized by ultraviolet light. But again it did not work - either the ink was of poor quality, or the printing was too expensive.
Step 3
After several months of research and experimentation, the young specialist made the first barcode, combining the Morse code coding system and the video signal reading method. Having adopted technology, he built his own device that was able to read information.
Step 4
In 1949, the specialist patented his invention, after which he received an invitation to work at IBM. There he had to design the first prototype of the scanner. After a while, his labors were crowned with success. Joseph designed a device consisting of an incandescent lamp, a device that picks up a light signal, and an oscilloscope that converts the information received.
Step 5
Although this device was far from perfect and even burned the scanned paper, the first step was taken. However, it was the issue of readability and conversion that became an obstacle to development. As a result, IBM decided to suspend research. And the matter would have completely stopped if in a few years a laser had not been invented, the beam of which was able to dissolve in black stripes and be reflected in white. This development interested the largest trade organization RSA. Then, and IBM decided not to miss out on such a huge range of developments, again calling Woolend into the service. The specialists of this company, together with George Lowrer, took part in the creation of a modern coding system, transforming it into the UPC barcode standard. Thus, IBM became the pioneers in this area.
Step 6
On April 3, 1973, the international trade association UPC barcode was recognized as the official unit of accounting and logistics of goods.
Despite the fact that supermarkets had to spend money on new equipment, printers and scanners, their costs quickly paid off. Since then, a product once marked in one store could be found elsewhere with the same barcode. All of this has greatly simplified the logistics, sales and customer service process. A few years later, an organization emerged to control the emergence of new companies and their products in the barcode system.
