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You've seen them on cereal boxes, books, and just about every consumer product on store shelves. They are the infamous UPC barcodes. Why could they be needed? Who is with them, and what kind of information will they glean from them?
What's promising about Universal Product Code (UPC) barcodes is that they weren't employed for nefarious government purposes as was feared when they were first introduced commercially within the 1970s. That time might be arriving the long run, until then they're harmless to the average consumer. They are used primarily to track inventory for retail, manufacturing along with other purposes.
Good reputation for the UPC Barcode
The history of the used PC barcode actually goes back to the early 1930s and also the first automated checkout system featuring technology using punch cards. Inventors Bernard Silver and Joseph Woodland patented the very first barcode system in the early 1950s based on their previous understanding of those earlier punch card systems.
Various organizations and businesses then continued to experiment with the UPC barcode with the 1960s, yet commercial success seemed elusive typically. However, in early 1970s, IBM introduced the current barcode for commercial use. And what was the very first product they coded? A pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum.
How it Works
A standard UPC barcode consists of a combination of black strips, white spaces and numerical digits. As many as 12 digits make up the UPC number, with each 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 initial 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 trace packages. Retailers like Walmart and Kmart use the codes to trace inventory in warehouses and local shops. Manufacturers make use of the codes to manage raw materials arriving and finished products heading out. But you may use them you to ultimately manage your own small business or keep track of possessions in your house for insurance purposes.
There are a number of free software programs that permit individual customers to create and print their very own barcodes. All that you should do is link these to a database or spreadsheet, then print a label and attach it to anything you want to trace. Having a smart phone or PDA your UPC bar codes become a simple and efficient method to keep track of anything you desire.