Why are there Different Kinds of Barcodes?

Why Isn’t there one super-symbology

that can do it all?

(Because nobody can define “all” for all time.)

Problems and Solutions Evolve

• Barcodes were invented

to solve a specific problem

in the grocery industry

UPC solved a problem in the 1970’s but is now threatened by its own success as the system approaches its numbering capacity.

Problem = Opportunity

• Old symbologies evolve into variations:

The original UPC now has evolved into many specialty types including UPC-A, UPC-E,

EAN-13, EAN-8, Bookland, BIPAD and NDC 3

Problem = Opportunity

New symbologies solve problems old symbologies cannot solve

• Limited available space on labels • Limited data capacity • Numeric-only encoded characters • Error detection only in some 1D types

Evolution of Solutions

Linear barcode evolution

• Code 39

alpha-numeric encoding

• Code 128 included upper

and lower case and

special characters

• Code 128 space efficiencies

1D Symbol Evolution

Stacked Linear Symbologies

• PDF417

• GS1 Databar

Evolution of Solutions

2D barcode evolution

• Increase data capacity

• Decrease footprint

• Error correction

• Tolerant to very low reflectivity applications

2D Symbol Types

QR Code

Data Matrix Code

Aztec Code

Maxi Code

2D Symbol Evolution

Microsoft Tag

Ultra Code

The Future

Problems that are now being solved:

• Hidden /encrypted data: encoding with color

• Invisible barcodes: UV and digital watermark

• Web-validation security: cloud lookup

Different Kinds of Barcodes

There are different kinds of barcodes for a changing world with emerging problems.