Whatto! Grocers........
Today is the 57th Birthday of the humble BARCODE!
Yes!
That seemingly random collection of vertical lines that somehow convey so much information to shopkeepers up and down the country......
...and throughout the entire World of Commerce.......
....is 57 years old today!
From this abstract patterning....
....grocers are able to tell exactly what the item is.....
....and therefore how many have been purchased in any given period.......
....thus preventing them.....
....from getting behind....
....with their stocktaking
"Keymarket" was the first supermarket to use barcodes....
....thirty years ago.....
(twenty seven years after it was first invented in America)
....and although they were obviously pioneers at that time....
....one can't help asking....
..."Whatever happened to Keymarket?"
Today the Barcode has come along way....
....and designers try to include them in products.....
....in more interesting ways.
The Original design for a barcode was round.......
....and although the computer can read a circular image more easily....
....it was a difficult design to reproduce in printed form.....
....so Barcodes ended up as the familiar row of black bars......
....so Barcodes ended up as the familiar row of black bars......
.....that we know and love today.
They help us to identify things very quickly........
They help us to identify things very quickly........
....e.g.......
"What am I standing on?".....
....."Oh yes.....it's a 2898701445"
....."Oh yes.....it's a 2898701445"
And anything in the World can now be barcoded......
......but is it for our benefit.....
....or a computers?
Take this Priceless 4890624931 for example......
......the Barcode ......with an enigmatic smile.
Beautiful?
Functional?
Art?
Out of stock?
Sometimes one can find oneself......
.....just staring at the Barcode.....
....in hypnotic disbelief.
No longer a merely functional item.......
....it can be used as a symbol for those in love....
.....with shopping.
"We met in the 8 items or less queue!"
"I scanned her details.....and liked what I saw"
I wonder how long it will be before Supermarkets offer 'Express Marriage' cashtills?
In which case these rings will come in very handy......
Just pass the ringed hands over the scanner....
.....and a mechanical voice from the till says.......
...."With this Barcode....I thee wed"
Aaaaaaaaaah......
Romantic isn't it?
They convey so much information.......
....that it's really only a matter of time.....
....before they become compulsory.....
....for everyone.
What are YOUR barcode experiences?
Tallyho!
Best Wishes - Lord Noel & Lady Jacqueline
Dress With Finesse 
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