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You've seen them on cereal boxes, books, and just about every consumer product on store shelves. Those are the infamous UPC barcodes. Why could they be needed? Who's using them, and what kind of information do they glean from their store?
What's promising about Universal Product Code (UPC) barcodes is that they haven't been used for nefarious government purposes as was feared when they were first introduced commercially within the 1970s. That point might be arriving the long run, but for now they're harmless to the average consumer. They are used primarily to trace inventory for retail, manufacturing and other purposes.
Good reputation for the UPC Barcode
The history from the used PC barcode actually goes back towards the early 1930s and also the first automated checkout system featuring technology using punch cards. Inventors Bernard Silver and Joseph Woodland patented the first barcode system in the early 1950s based on their previous understanding of those earlier punch card systems.
Various organizations and business entities then continued to test out the UPC barcode with the 1960s, yet commercial success seemed elusive for the most part. However, in the early 1970s, IBM introduced the current barcode for commercial use. And just what was the very first product they coded? A pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum.
How it Works
A typical UPC barcode includes a mixture of black strips, white spaces and numerical digits. As many as 12 digits from the UPC number, with every number sequence being represented by a specific combination of black strips and white spaces. Uniqueness is achieved by allowing just one method to display any numerical sequence.
By arranging the black strips and white spaces accordingly, the UPC barcode provides a graphical image that may be scanned using infrared light or other similar technologies. The unique number sequence of each individual code can be used to retrieve and store data linked to the item scanned.
DIY UPC Barcodes
Organizations like the U.S. Postal Service and UPS use UPC barcodes to track packages. Retailers like Walmart and Kmart make use of the codes to track inventory in warehouses and local shops. Manufacturers even use the codes to control recycleables coming in and handle products going out. But you may use them you to ultimately manage your personal small business or keep an eye on possessions in your home for insurance purposes.
There are a variety of free software application programs that allow individual customers to create and print their own barcodes. All that you should do is link them to a database or spreadsheet, then print a label and attach it to anything you want to track. Having a smart phone or PDA your UPC barcode symbols become a simple and efficient way to keep track of whatever you desire.