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We do not give barcodes the credit that they deserve. They have become an integral part of our daily lives, yet we often take them for granted. Barcodes make our lives simpler and more efficient while developing and changing over time as more innovative uses become more popular. It is very exciting to think about what the future will hold. What new advances will technology bring? Here are some fun facts that you may not know.

Barcodes took 20 years to become mainstream
Two inventors, Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph Woodland, created barcodes. They started developing their idea as early as the 1940s. Their first idea would look like a bullseye, not today’s traditional rectangular, lined barcode. Joe Woodland thought that this bull’s eye shape would work better since it would be able to be read from any angle. However, they later decided against this design because of difficulties with the specific design. Joe Woodland claims that the inspiration for what would become the traditional, rectangular barcode came to him while he was sitting on the beach in Miami. He drew in the sand with his fingers and the idea of a code that could be printed on products and scanned at checkout appeared in his mind. He drew these lines in the sand. This is where the revolution started.

It was 20 years later when the first official barcode would be scanned at a local supermarket in Marsh, Ohio. This was in 1974. The first UPC was printed onto a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit Gum. The occasion became a huge celebration. Clyde Dawson was the first “shopper” and the first official retail assistant to use a barcode was Sharon Buchanan. This marked a breakthrough in the advancement of technology. They revolutionized the retail industry and saved us all time and money by making the sales process smoother and more efficient.

In the 1980s, Dr. Stephen Buchmann developed the world’s smallest barcode. He was an entomologist at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Centre in Arizona. The dimensions were 2.5 mm by 1.3 mm and were small enough to be attached to bees. The purpose of this was to monitor all the activities of the bees and gain information that would help to conserve them.

The unnecessary fear of barcodes
Many people were dubious and skeptical about this new advancement of technology at first. We fear what we do not know. In 1982, Mary Stewart Relfe claimed that every barcode contains the number 666, defined as the ‘mark of the beast’ in the book of Revelations in the Bible. Many conservative people who believe this conspiracy theory claim that barcodes are the beginning of the end, as was prophesied in the Bible. This strongly held belief gained momentum and spread throughout the world. It lasted for many years before it faded out of the spotlight. However, this is not the case. Barcodes are not the mark of the beast. They are simply a code that makes the sales process quicker and more efficient. It is not necessary to be scared or wary of them. They are only tools to use to make our lives easier.

The original barcode scanner was the size of a washing machine. That size was necessary because this scanner contained components to be water-cooled.  Technology has advanced progressively forward and the barcode scanners of today are smaller and much more convenient. Most businesses use cordless handheld scanners. At first, people feared these scanners because they associated the red laser they used with Star Wars and brought up fears of being blinded or hurt by the lights. Over time, people became used to them and got over these fears.

Barcodes in art and design
Barcodes have become the inspiration in many different sectors of our lives. Tattoo artists are creating tattoos, inspired by strong black lines. It is now possible to have your nails painted with the bold, black lines the main inspiration. Many people get manicures and pedicures with this as the main inspiration. Even interior designers are creating designs based on this inspiration. Barcode art has become a big craze that has revolutionized the art world. They have even penetrated the architecture of many different countries. In St Petersburg, Vitruvius & Sons designed the famous red barcode building called Shtrikh Kod. They have also been used on billboards to make political or spiritual statements to the public. Barcodes have also entered gaming consoles One example is the Barcode Battler, which Epoch developed in March 1991. Each console had its own set of cards with a barcode on each of them. Each player created characters that would battle each other.

Barcodes in travel
Another fun fact is that airline and train tickets have their unique barcode. This is known as Aztec Code ecause the middle part looks like an Aztec pyramid. Andrew Longacre and Robert Hussey developed this two-dimensional code in 1995 to allow more information to be conveyed than standard 1D barcodes. The Airline industry has allocated this code as their standard for boarding passes. In addition, many train lines have also adopted the Aztec code for their tickets.

Barcodes in healthcare
Many hospitals throughout the world use QR codes. They use them to control the whole of the patient’s experience, from their admission and treatment through to when they go home. This technology ensures that they get the best possible treatment. Human mistakes in a hospital can have fatal consequences. Barcodes help eliminate these mistakes by controlling the dispensing of medication and providing information about the patient’s diet and treatment. They are also used to regulate and control the Blood bank. The proper blood must get given to each recipient. There is no room for error. In this way, we owe our lives to QR codes.

As you can see, there are many different fun facts about barcodes. They have an exciting history and a very promising future. SA Barcodes is excited to be a part of this ongoing revolution. We supply a full range of barcodes sourced from the international barcodes database. We can answer all your questions and help you initiate a barcode system within your small or large business. Every small business owner needs all the help they can get to ensure the long-term success of their business. Let us know how we can assist with your barcode needs.