常春藤生活英语【26】Barcodes 条形码的起源

In 1948, the Drexel Institute of Technology in America got a call from a local storeowner asking for help. He wanted the school to invent a machine that would help keep track of inventory¹ as well as speed up the checkout² process. Drexel asked two of their brightest students, Joe Woodland and Bernard Silver, to find a solution.

Woodland was fascinated by this problem and his idea was to use ultraviolet ink. He had difficulty with the first model because it was unstable³ and expensive. In 1952, the team came up with a new method and a patent was approved. The first barcode looked like a bull's-eye and was made up of many small circles. The barcode we know and see today looks very different; however, its purpose is still the same. When a barcode is scanned, data is collected and the product is immediately identified. The first product to have a barcode on it was a pack of Wrigley's gum. Today, that pack of gum is on display at the National Museum of American History.

1948年，美国的德瑞索理工学院接到一通当地商家打来的求助电话。店主希望校方发明一台有助于记录库存和加快结帐速度的机器。德瑞索学院要求两名他们最聪明的学生——乔?伍蓝德和伯纳?西尔佛，找出解决之道。

伍蓝德对此问题深深着迷，他的构想是利用紫外线墨水。第一台模型的麻烦多多，因为它既不稳定，又所费不赀。1952年，这组人马想出了一个新方法，并且获得专利。第一代的条形码由许多小圆圈组成，看起来状似靶心。今天我们所见并熟悉的条形码看起来虽然大不相同，然而它的目的仍是一样的。当条形码被扫瞄过后，便能获得数据，立刻辨识出产品。第一个印上条形码的产品是一包青箭口香糖。如今，这包口香糖在美国国立历史博物馆中展出。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.unstable　a. 不稳定的
Their relationship has been unstable recently.
他们的关系最近不太稳定。

2.scan　vt. 扫描
Can you scan those photos for me?
你可不可以帮我扫瞄那些照片？

3.identify　vt. 辨别；认出
The witness identified the killer⁴ right away.
目击者立刻就指认出凶手。

Phrases for Learning

1.keep track of...　　追踪……
Tina uses a cell phone to keep track of her husband.
蒂娜用手机追查她老公的行踪。

2.speed up...　　加快……的速度
The boss told me to speed up my work.
老板叫我要加快工作速度。

3.be on display　　被展示，被陈列
Ray's paintings are on display downstairs.
阿雷的画作正在楼下展出中。

参考字词

1.institute　n. 学院；研究院

2.inventory　n. 存货，库存

3.checkout　n. 结帐（本文中作形容词用）

4.fascinate　vt. 吸引，使着迷

5.ultraviolet　a. 紫外线的

6.patent　n. 专利；专利权

7.bull's-eye　n. 靶心

Enjoy Box
条形码再进化

条形码在现代人的生活中，已经是一种不可或缺的物品。不论是您买东西结帐，或是商店店员在盘点时，都需利用条形码来加快整个过程。传统的条形码为一维条形码，原理是利用黑白线条的排列和粗细来储存数据，最多仅能储存达十五个英文字母或数字。由于扫描的部分为一横线，如图所示，故称为一维条形码。但随着时代的进步及产品数据量的增加，一维条形码已逐渐不敷使用。因此，在一维条形码的粗细线条之外加上其它点线，使其隐藏信息量增加的『二维条形码』便应运而生。顾名思义，二维条形码的扫描范围为一整个面，如下图二所示，所含的信息更可超过一千个字。目前常见的二维条形码，是一套由日本人发明的QR Code（Quick Response Code）。QR Code的运用在日本已行之多年，其中所蕴含的信息可以是网址，或是姓名、电话等个人信息。甚至透过扫描一整组QR Code，就能显现一个简单的图案或小张的照片。QR Code多半与手机做结合，利用手机的照相功能加上内建的辨识软件来进行扫描。手机用户只要轻轻一拍，就能在一瞬间获得大量讯息，而不需辛苦地键入各种资料。

Tips In Use

...that would help keep track of...　……有助于记录……

在此介绍 help（帮助）的用法：
1.help (to) + 原形动词
2.help with + 名词
3.help + 受词 + (to) + 原形动词
4.help + 受词 + with + 名词

Joan helped (to) clean my room.
=Joan helped with the cleaning of my room.
=Joan helped me (to) clean my room.
=Joan helped me with the cleaning of my room.
（乔安妮帮我打扫我房间。）

1 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

2 checkout   

n.（超市等）收银台，付款处

参考例句：

• Could you pay at the checkout.你能在结帐处付款吗。
• A man was wheeling his shopping trolley to the checkout.一个男人正推着购物车向付款台走去。

3 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

4 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。