2006年VOA标准英语-Universal Product Bar Code turns 30

By Mil Arcega
Washington, D.C.
30 June 2006
 
Watch Bar Code Report

Bar code
  
  
The Universal Product Code turned 30 this week. The U.P.C. is a unique combination of black and white lines that can identify virtually anything from a bar of soap to medical prescriptions¹.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports on a technological² innovation that has revolutionized global commerce.

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Sharon Buchanan 
  
When Marsh³ Supermarket store cashier Sharon Buchanan scanned a pack of Wrigley's spearmint gum 30 years ago, she had no idea she was marking a technological milestone⁴. "I don't think any of us realized at the time how far this was going to go. The fact that we were first in the world, we had no idea that was going on either."

The rest, as they say, is history.  Three decades later, the Universal Product Code -- U.P.C. for short -- is stamped on everything from floral arrangements to home hardware.  GS1 US, the organization that administers U.P.C. standards, estimates bar codes are scanned about 10 billion times a day around the world.  GS1 President Michael Di Yeso says the technology, which was developed in the early 1970s by the U.S. grocery industry, is now used by manufacturers and retailers⁶ in more than 150 countries.

"I think it became obvious early on that as the scanning process took place and computers were capturing information, that information could be used beyond just price checks," he said. "They began to use that information for inventory⁷ control and sharing that information back with their suppliers to improve availability of products on their shelves."

Although it took several years to gain acceptance, GS1 believes the system of 59 black and white bars has quickened the pace of commerce and saved consumers more than a trillion dollars. The system continues to evolve. Di Yeso says "Reduced Face Symbology," which reduces the bar codes to very small patterns, is now playing a major role in the health industry.

 
Michael Di Yeso
  
"The same technology that was invented 30-years ago that helped people move through the grocery line faster, is now saving lives in hospitals all across North America, but also in other parts of the world as well," he said.

In 2003, GS1 developed a new standard, the Electronic Product Code, which uses wireless⁸ technology and can transmit product information over the Internet.

"We believe very strongly that once the electronic product code begins to seed itself into both retail⁵, manufacturing, health care and other supply chains, the benefits the electronic product code will provide, will eclipse the benefits that I talked about earlier from the U.P.C. bar code," Di Yeso said.

Whatever the future brings, the U.P.C.'s contributions to global commerce have already been immortalized in the Smithsonian Museum of American History -- along with a 30-year-old pack of chewing gum

1 prescriptions   

药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划

参考例句：

• The hospital of traditional Chinese medicine installed a computer to fill prescriptions. 中医医院装上了电子计算机来抓药。
• Her main job was filling the doctor's prescriptions. 她的主要工作就是给大夫开的药方配药。

2 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 marsh   

n.沼泽，湿地

参考例句：

• There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
• I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。

4 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

7 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。

8 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。