Barcodes are one of the most important inventions in modern retail, but they didn’t become popular overnight.
In 1949, a graduate student named Norman Woodland was inspired by Morse code to create a scannable system for tracking products. However, early versions were circular “bullseye” codes, and it wasn’t until 1974 that the first striped barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigley’s gum at a supermarket.
Today, barcodes are essential in inventory tracking, logistics, and even medical records, proving that a simple pattern of lines can revolutionize industries worldwide!
