The Barcode

How a Team Created One of the World's Most Ubiquitous Technologies

Paul V McEnroe, Michael S Malone

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Hardback

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English

Silicon Valley Press
29 August 2023

Economic history; Management & management techniques; Information technology industries; History of engineering & technology; Inventions & inventors

""The Barcode is a celebration of the digital age and the entrepreneurial spirit ... and of the men and women who had the vision, the courage and the fortitude to take an 'impossible' idea and make it real. The Barcode tells the real story of the team at IBM that developed the technology we use today, why it was selected in layman's terms, and in the appendix, why it is superior for the technical community.

In its contribution to both global economic prosperity and the quality of daily life few ... technologies ... equal the barcode. But who knows the history of the barcode? No one is better suited to tell the story than Paul V. McEnroe. In so many ways, the story of the barcode is his story.

Barcode scans are so common, so ubiquitous, that we scarcely notice them. They permeate every corner of our lives. They can be found on Mars rovers and ocean bottoms ... on children's toys and giant earthmoving equipment. You are likely wearing some at this very moment without really knowing how they happened or who created them.

A truly successful technology becomes invisible. And then, even if you encounter it dozens of times each day, as you do with barcodes, it becomes forgotten.""

From the Foreword by Michael S. Malone

By: Paul V McEnroe, Michael S Malone
Imprint: Silicon Valley Press
Dimensions: Height: 243mm, Width: 163mm, Spine: 19mm
Weight: 576g
ISBN: 9798985842845
Pages: 202
Publication Date: 29 August 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Award-winning engineer Paul V. McEnroe developed state-of-the-art products the world depends upon today. During his distinguished career, Mr. McEnroe was known for visionary engineering and for sound business management. In 23 years with IBM, Mr. McEnroe delivered innovations that became industry standards. He is perhaps most widely recognized as the developer of the Universal Product Code (UPC), commonly known as the barcode. He created the first commercial application of laser technology, the barcode scanner, and the magnetic code for Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) marking. Today, Mr. McEnroe enjoys ranching in the Santa Ynez Valley with his wife Tina.

Reviews for The Barcode: How a Team Created One of the World's Most Ubiquitous Technologies

""Paul McEnroe and his team at IBM created a remarkable technology that revolutionized the retail economy. I truly enjoyed reading this first-hand account of the development of this extraordinarily disruptive technology, and I recommend it to all with enthusiasm."" -Alan J. Heeger, PhD, Innovator, Entrepreneur, and Nobel Laureate ""Paul McEnroe weaves high human emotion and compelling endeavor through the story of his life and his key role in the creation of a technology that supports the daily function of modern society."" -Jeff Armstrong, PhD, President of Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo ""This fascinating book tells the story behind one of the most impactful digital technologies that preceded the PC last century. The barcode and barcode readers changed the way information is expressed, and this book shows us how that was made possible. An essential read for anyone interested in technology and its history."" -Mung Chiang, PhD, President of Purdue University ""The Barcode is a terrific retelling of the development of a technology that is hidden in plain sight, yet whose impact is immeasurable. This first-hand account of navigating unlikely events, overcoming obstacles, and pursuing dreams will resonate with inventive minds everywhere."" -Henry Yang, PhD, Chancellor of the University of California at Santa Barbara ""The Barcode is about leadership and vision, overcoming the worst tragedies that life can throw at a person and getting up after you have been knocked down. It gives readers a front row seat to the inner workings of IBM in the 70s and 80s and shares lessons about uniting diverse development organizations behind a common vision. This book is a must read for anyone who aspires to be a technical leader."" -Bob Miller, CEO of DisasterIQ; Former Lab Director at IBM, CPO of Data General, and CEO of MIPS