Barcodes: The Number of the Beast

writes "The concept of UPC barcodes on packages at the grocery store is a little pedestrian these days. Much creativity has gone into the use of barcodes for many more applications than originally conceived (don't worry -- no Cuecat diatribe here!). For example, Scott Blake uses barcodes to create large, mosaic works of art. Andy Deck has reinvented classic literature with Bardcode which will stream the entire works of Shakespeare to you as barcodes. If you do nothing else, check out Art Lebedev, a group of Russian artists that manipulates photos to reveal hidden bar codes (The nod to Abbey Road in New Beatles By Robert Dyomkin is especially appealing to an ex-scouser like me). "

Boomzilla continues: Barcodes were first developed in the railroad business to keep track of which cars went with which engine. The barcodes were imprinted on the side of the railway cars. The barcodes on each car could then be read together to compile information on that particular grouping; what station they came from, where they were headed, etc. thus automating the process of marshalling. When the business world realized how well this system worked, these railway barcodes evolved into the UPC system with which we are all familiar. To really be able to take in the wonder that are bar codes, check out the excellent FAQ created by Russ Adams and an article from the BBC.

Coming full circle, the clever folks at Bekonscot Model Railway in the UK have utilized barcodes at every turn of their expansive system. For example, an MP3 player is driven off barcodes attached to trains. The trains are announced before they arrive and when they are leaving, stating their destination, route and at what stations they will call.

Want a barcode of your name?

Comments

so uh... cool or not?

[AssFace]

I got a big tattoo of my SSN in barcode format right on my forehead.

That way people know who I am.

It is unclear from any of those links if this makes me cool or not.

Well sheesh.

[Faust7]

Barcodes: The Number of the Beast

It never occurred to me that Satan might be living in my UPC symbols. Now I need a priest to accompany me to the grocery store.

Mark of the Beast?

[mahdi13]

So exactly what does that bar code on the back on my neck mean? I had it scanned at the grocery store, it seems I'm cheap and can be bought for $6.66

Did anyone else read

[Savatte]

Andy Deck has reinvented classic literature with Bardcode

Did anyone else read that as Andy Dick? I thought the only things andy dick did was get naked and fall down a lot.

Barcodes have an incompatibility problem...

[Boss, Pointy Haired]

...with the recruitment policy of our local hardware superstore.

B&Q is a large DIY chain in the UK. They might be in the US, I don't know. They have a policy of only employing people over 95 years of age.

So you get to the checkout with your self install kitchen. A little old 97 year old lady has now got to try and :

a) locate the barcode on each item of your self-install kitchen, containing many items that are several orders of magnitude BIGGER THAN SHE IS.

b) having located the barcode, get her scanner to it.

I'm going to regret this

[devphil]

but here you go:

Microsoft's latest wall poster

No, I don't remember who sent it to me. And I'm turning off the webserver in half an hour so I can go back to getting real work done, so somebody mirror the damn thing and stop hammering my home DSL. :-)

Re:I'm going to regret this

[kzinti]

That logo means nothing unless the child also has a Certificate of Authenticity. If the child was delivered without a Certificate, it is unlicensed and must be destroyed.

The Business Software Alliance thanks you for your attention.

Best "Third Rock" joke ever

[jcsehak]

Sally: How'd your research go?
Harry: Great. I was at the grocery store and... watch this: [holds up a can of corn] fat skinny skinny fat fat skinny fat skinny... $2.49. I cracked the bar code!
Sally: Good work!