Researched
Barcode & Scanner
On 26 June 1974 a pack of chewing gum is the first item scanned with a Universal Product Code in a US supermarket.
Open in the interactive tree →Woodland and Silver patented the idea in 1952, and IBM's George Laurer designed the UPC bar pattern that a laser scanner and a small computer can read. The barcode made tracking of goods cheap and underlies modern retail and logistics.
Prerequisites
- Integrated Circuit1958-1959
- Laser1960
Unlocks
- QR Code1994
- E-Commerce & Fulfilment1995
- Warehouse Robots2003-2012
- AI Forecasting & Supply Twins2020-2026
Sources
More in Transport & Mobility · Atomic & Space Age
- Jet Airliner1952
- Nuclear-Powered Submarine1954
- Container Ship1956
- High-Speed Train1964
- RFID Tags1973