The Surprising History of Barcodes: How They Almost Looked Different

The Origin of Barcodes

Barcodes have become an integral part of our daily lives, with over 6 billion scanned every day. However, their history is far more intriguing than their ubiquity suggests. The concept of barcodes dates back to 1949 when Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver submitted a patent for the first barcode. Surprisingly, the initial barcode design did not feature the familiar vertical lines; instead, it used a series of concentric circles in the shape of a bull's-eye.

The bull’s-eye barcode introduced in Woodland and Silver’s 1949 patent.

Woodland and Silver's invention faced initial challenges in gaining traction, but the trajectory of barcodes changed with the advent of the first working laser by Theodore H. Maiman in 1960. This breakthrough made it possible to quickly decode a barcode's line patterning, setting the stage for the evolution of barcode technology.

In the late 1960s, the grocery industry embarked on pilot projects using different types of barcode symbols, including the bull's-eye and other experimental designs. However, the diversity in symbols posed challenges, leading to the need for a standardized approach to barcode usage.

The Battle for Barcode Dominance

The 1970s marked a pivotal period in the history of barcodes as the grocery industry sought to establish a universal standard for barcode symbols. The industry formed a committee to develop an industrywide data standard and select a symbol that stores would unanimously adopt.

The committee faced intense competition among seven barcode symbol finalists, with RCA's bull's-eye barcode and IBM's symbol emerging as the front-runners. The selection process involved extensive testing, company pitches, and deliberations that ultimately led to a dramatic decision with far-reaching consequences.

The seven barcode symbol finalists displayed in the official internal reports of the symbol selection committee.

Despite pressure from RCA, the committee chose the IBM symbol as the industry standard, a decision that shaped the future of barcode technology. The significance of this choice extended beyond the committee's imagination, influencing various aspects of culture and society.

The Enduring Legacy of Barcodes

The adoption of the IBM symbol as the industry standard marked a defining moment in the history of barcodes. The first Universal Product Code barcode was scanned at a grocery store in 1974, setting the stage for the ubiquitous presence of barcodes in modern commerce.

The iconic IBM symbol, chosen almost 50 years ago, remains the cornerstone of barcode technology, transcending time and continuing to shape various facets of society. Its influence has extended to architectural designs, science fiction narratives, and even popular culture, reflecting the enduring impact of a seemingly mundane yet profoundly influential invention.