What is a Barcode Scanner?
A barcode scanner is a device that reads and interprets barcodes, which are visual patterns containing encoded data. These devices are crucial in industries like retail, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing, where they help automate data capture and minimize human error.
Barcode scanners work by shining a light, usually from a laser or LED, onto a barcode. The light reflects off the barcode, and a sensor captures this reflection. The scanner then converts the light into electrical signals, which a decoding system interprets into data. This data can represent various information, such as product prices, inventory numbers, or personal identification details.
To learn more about barcode symbology, you can visit GS1, the global standards organization.
The Evolution of Barcode Scanners
Barcode scanners have evolved significantly since their creation. In the 1940s, Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver invented the first barcode scanner, drawing inspiration from Morse code. However, barcode technology only became commercially viable in the 1970s with the introduction of the Universal Product Code (UPC) and its successful use in supermarkets.
Over the years, barcode scanners have transitioned from large, stationary devices to compact, portable units. Early scanners could only read linear (1D) barcodes. Modern scanners, however, can now read both linear and matrix (2D) barcodes, such as QR codes, with greater accuracy and speed.
Wireless and Bluetooth barcode scanners have also improved mobility and convenience. Users can now scan items from a distance and instantly transmit data to systems like point-of-sale (POS) systems and inventory management software.
For a historical look at barcode technology, see this Smithsonian Magazine article.
