What is a barcode?
A barcode is a code consisting of a group of
printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is
designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains
information (as identification) about the object it labels. Used especially in
the stock marketing.
What do the digits mean?
A barcode contains a human-readable 12 digit UPC
number. The first 6 digits are the manufacturer’s
identification number which is designed especially for that company, so if an
item is refunded then the store knows it’s from the same store. The next 5
digits is the item number, which every item of clothing
has a unique code, and the UPC coordinator assigns the item numbers and has to
be aware that no item of product has the same item number than another
product. The last 1
digit number is called the check digit and this has the
job of letting the scanner know whether the number is scanned correctly or not
and is calculated for the other 11 digits.
- You add together all the numbers that are in the odd position (the numbers in the place of the 1, 3,5,7,9, and 11th digit). For example the odd digits on the barcode above would be: 7,1,3,5,7,0. You then add them together (23).
- You multiply the product of the numbers by 3 (69).
- You then add all the digits in the even positions (every 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10th digit). So for the barcode above it would be : 7,2,4,6,0,3. And that would equal 22.
- Add the numbers from step 2 and 3 together (69+22=91).
- With the number in step 4 you create the check digit by using that number and rounding it to the nearest multiple of 10. The number added to the number in step 4 to get to the nearest multiple of 10. I.e. – 91-90=1. So the check digit is 1.
The overall UPC number would be: 7712345670031.
Where are barcodes
generally used?
Barcodes are normally used in supermarkets, grocery
stores, and any other kind of shopping store. However, nowadays barcodes are
being used in other industries, like emergency services and the post office.
Explain how an item in the store is given a new price
The item of clothing which has an item number
within the barcode is deleted as the price is yet to be reduced and needs a
completely different barcode as the price is different. A new barcode is given
and placed in the sale.
How can a barcode save your life?
Barcodes are notorious for saving people time so
they can be an advantage to people in the emergency services in particular. For
example, by putting a barcode on your car it can make it more convenient and
quicker for emergency respondents to rescue accident victims and what is the
best way to handle the situation. More realistically, barcodes minimise the
chance of a mistake, especially in retail stores but also other industries who
have found barcodes retrieve more information and is more accurate.
How can barcode speed up your journey?
Barcodes minimise stress when on your journey and
saves time prior to you arriving. For example, barcodes are now used in
airports on boarding passes. By downloading applications such as a barcode
scanner, you can scan the barcode on your ticket or email and it tells you
vital information including: the terminal, flight date and time, boarding pass
number, time delays, and can even check you in so you don’t have to stand in
queues at the airport to book in and go through customs.
List 3 advantages of barcodes
- Barcodes eliminate human errors so there’s a smaller possibility of mistakes when entering data.
- They save you time when scanning a barcode in comparison to typing the data in manually on a keyboard as they’re cost-effective and reliable and shortens new employee training as they’re straight forward and simple to use.
- They’re cheap to print and design meaning that it’s a profitable business in any company. This will be an economical benefit to a company and costs pennies to make.
- Barcodes are easy to be ripped or smudged when on paper or card on a price tag. This stops the barcode scanner from scanning the barcode and causes difficulties to type in the numbers alternatively.
- However barcodes can prove to be very expensive, not in printing the designs, but buying the equipment and machines needed to scan the barcodes and code them in. Large companies need a fair quantity of these.
- Although barcodes are quick and efficient, it still takes time as you have to code the prices and product numbers into the machine for the barcode to print. This can prove to be relatively time-consuming.
I created a barcode using 12 digits on a website
called http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php
.
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