The bar code was invented by Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in 1948. It was designed as a ‘bulls eye’ symbol comprising concentric circles. The initial idea of the bar code was to use it as a method for classifying grocery products. In 1970 a standard was set for all products and the Universal Grocery Products Identification Code (UGPIC) was written. It evolved further when in 1973 the Universal Product Code (UPC), which is currently in use, was invented by George J. Laurer. A scanner was installed in 1974 in Ohio, and the first product to have a bar code was a 10 pack Wrigley’s chewing gum.
