Used in all countries of the world, the barcode soon replaced, to make way for a new coding system. The item that beeps at checkout is thanks to the barcode. From where, since when, by whom, discover the story behind this all-important little coding system.
The barcode will soon be replaced
What is the barcode? It’s a succession of small vertical lines, whose thicknesses vary, and that we scan, especially at the checkout. If you want a number, barcodes are scanned more than 6 billion times a day. This is because of the 70,000 products that pass through checkouts.
With brands like System U, that is to say medium-sized, recorded 523 million passages of products at the checkout last year. It should be noted that it is not only checkout, but also traceability, stock management and transport. The barcode makes it possible to identify a product and opens up access to other functionalities for professionals. This is what Laurence Vallana explains, she is the France director of SES-Imagotag.
Origin and short history
We know that it was the Americans Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver who patented the barcode in 1952. However, it was the American engineer George Laurer who perfected it and put it on the market from 1971. Very quickly, the barcode became the system that large distributors and manufacturers used.
It will be commonly called EAN-13, European Article Number, and the 13 signifies the number of digits that compose it. The very first item marked with it was a pack of fruit chewing gum, on June 26, 1974. Today, this item is on display in the National Museum of American History.
A new coding system that is gradually taking its place
This is the QR Code. The Quick Response Code is the one that is gradually replacing the barcode. If the latter recalls the bars of a prison, the QR Code recalls the game of go. Masahiro Hara created the QR Code in 1994. It has more features than just barcode.
The QR Code can be used for reuse, recycling or reuse. GS1, the company responsible for its development reassures users, its integration will be done quietly.
