Google Barcode Logo: Doodle Celebrates Barcode Patent Anniversary

Google highlights another important anniversary, with the homepage Google barcode doodle. Today marks the 57th anniversary of the barcode patent. Google's barcode doodle reminds us of an invention that impacts out daily lives.

Google Barcode Doodle: What Does It Mean?
The Washington Post has tentatively identified that the Google barcode doodle actually spells 'Google.' The word encode by using the common Code 128. This is a standard way of encoding barcodes with ASCII characters.

Google Barcode Doodle: History of the Barcode
According to Wikipedia, the history of the barcode starts with a Drexil student, Bernard Silver, overhearing conversation between a local food chain president and a dean. The barcode patent application was submitted by Silver, Norman Joseph Woodland and Jordin Johansen. This was in October of 1949. US Patent 2,612,994, the barcode patent, was issued October 7, 1952.

Historically, the barcode first took hold with labeling railroad cars, in 1961. Barcode technology was then implemented by New Jersey tollbooths and by the United States Postal Service. Kal Kan then requested a simpler barcode version, to keep track of pet food inventory. This grabbed the interest of the food industry, leading to the mass use of barcodes and Google's barcode doodle.

Google Barcode Doodle: Reminder of Barcode's Daily Impact
It is easy to overlook the importance of the barcode's patent anniversary. After all, the barcode is just a bunch of optically scanned black and white lines, not an addictive interactive device. Barcodes have revolutionized inventory control. They allow for every product item to be accounted for and put in the correct location.

Google's barcode doodle spotlights a seemingly minor achievement, that has global impact. Remember that the barcode is now present on most products, worldwide. Every time you purchase an item, barcode technology is used. Barcodes speed up the shopping experience, so the cashier does not have to manually punch in a price. This allows costumers to get in and out of stores quickly.

Google's barcode doodle also reminds one of how barcodes have opened the way towards automatic checkout lanes. This allows stores to lower the prices of items, as they do not have to pay cashiers. On the negative side, barcodes have also led to people losing jobs, being replaced by computers.

Google Barcode Doodle: Past Doodles
Google has been known to change its homepage doodle for holidays and other events the search giant deems appropriate. The most recent example was seen earlier this month, on Google's 11th anniversary. Google added an extra 'l' to its doodle, to form 'Googlle.' This gave the illusion of the number 11 being formed in Google's doodle.

Google changed its doodle, last month, in honor of crop circles. Other past Google doodle changes have been in honor of Google's 10th birthday and the birthday of Gandhi. To view Google's barcode doodle, visit Google's homepage.

Sources:
www.google.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/07/AR2009100700130.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode