Barcode

Barcode
toguro · CC0 · source
Name	Barcode
Invented	1952
Inventor	Norman Joseph Woodland; Bernard Silver
Type	Automatic identification and data capture
Use	Item identification, tracking, pricing

Barcode Barcodes are machine-readable optical representations of data first developed in the mid-20th century for automated identification and data capture. Invented by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, barcodes revolutionized retail, logistics, and manufacturing by enabling rapid scanning with devices from handheld readers to fixed imaging systems. Barcodes interact with technologies and institutions across industry and commerce, including IBM, Walmart, United States Postal Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and European Union regulatory frameworks.

History

The concept originated from research at the Drexel Institute of Technology and was influenced by earlier patents such as those by Willy Fischmann and work at Holkham Hall. Woodland and Silver filed a seminal patent in 1952 and development continued through collaborations with companies like RCA and Philco. Widespread commercial adoption accelerated after the Universal Product Code was established and retailers like Kroger and A&P began pilot programs. The pivotal scanning of a packet of Wrigley gum at a Marvin supermarket demonstrated retail use; subsequent industry adoption involved actors such as Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and General Motors. Transportation and postal services, notably United Parcel Service and Royal Mail, integrated barcode systems alongside advancements by IBM Research and standards bodies including International Organization for Standardization.

Symbology and Types

Barcode symbology encompasses linear and two-dimensional formats developed by organizations such as GS1, American National Standards Institute, International Electrotechnical Commission, and European Committee for Standardization. Linear families include UPC-A, EAN-13, Code 39, Code 128, and Interleaved 2 of 5, used by retailers like Target and manufacturers like Samsung. Two-dimensional matrix codes include QR Code (created by Denso Wave), Data Matrix (originating with RVSI/Intermec), PDF417 (designed by Symbol Technologies), and Aztec Code (used in Delta Air Lines boarding passes). Specialized symbologies include GS1-128 for logistics, HIBC in healthcare linked to World Health Organization recommendations, and MaxiCode developed by United Parcel Service for sorting centers. Check digit schemes and error correction methods derive from standards by ISO committees and implementations by vendors such as Honeywell and Zebra Technologies.

Technology and Scanning

Scanning hardware ranges from laser scanners produced by Symbol Technologies and Honeywell International to image-based readers by Cognex and camera systems used by Apple and Samsung. Scanners convert optical patterns into electrical signals processed by firmware from firms like Wincor Nixdorf and NCR Corporation, then routed to point-of-sale systems from Oracle Retail or enterprise resource planning suites by SAP and Microsoft Dynamics. Mobile scanning leverages smartphone platforms from Google and Apple integrating SDKs from Scandit and ZXing. Back-end data flows through networks managed by carriers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications to cloud services including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, with database indexing by Oracle Corporation and MongoDB.

Applications and Use Cases

Retail and grocery chains such as Walmart, Carrefour, Tesco, and Costco rely on barcodes for pricing and inventory; pharmaceutical supply chains involving Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson use barcoding under programs advocated by World Health Organization. Manufacturing operations at Boeing and Siemens use barcodes for work-in-progress tracking; logistics companies including DHL and FedEx use barcodes and EDI integrations. Healthcare providers like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic apply wristband barcoding for patient safety, while libraries such as the Library of Congress and museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art use barcodes for collections management. Event ticketing by Ticketmaster and airline check-in at American Airlines employ matrix codes; agriculture and livestock tracing involve agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture.

Standards and Regulation

Standards are promulgated by GS1, ISO/IEC, ANSI, and regional bodies like CEN; regulatory oversight intersects with agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration for medical labeling, the European Medicines Agency for pharmaceuticals, and customs authorities like U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Universal Product Code and European Article Number standards coordinate with retail consortiums including Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Retail Federation. Data privacy and telecommunications aspects invoke legislation from institutions such as the European Commission (GDPR implications) and national regulators including the Federal Communications Commission.

Benefits and Limitations

Barcodes offer benefits recognized by corporations including Procter & Gamble and Unilever: rapid scanning, reduced human error, and interoperability across supply chains managed by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. Limitations include physical damage susceptibility encountered in UPS logistics, limited data capacity in linear codes compared to QR Code or Data Matrix, and counterfeit risks discussed in legal actions involving firms like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics. Implementation costs affect small businesses represented by trade groups like the Small Business Administration, while accessibility concerns have prompted guidance from organizations such as World Wide Web Consortium.

Future Developments

Emerging directions tie barcoding to technologies from Internet of Things ecosystems promoted by IETF and IEEE, to blockchain pilots by IBM Blockchain and Hyperledger for provenance tracking used by Walmart and Nestlé. Advances in computer vision from Google AI and Facebook AI Research and edge computing by NVIDIA enable camera-based recognition complemented by RFID initiatives from Avery Dennison and Zebra Technologies. Regulatory evolution will involve bodies like European Medicines Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration as industries such as autonomous vehicles (development led by Tesla and Waymo) and smart manufacturing projects under Industry 4.0 incorporate richer identity schemes.

Category:Automatic identification and data capture