Barcode — Questions and answers
Read the full story
What did Woodland say was the main problem they needed to solve when creating the barcode?
Choices
- A) Finding new types of ink that glow in the dark.
- B) Making a pattern that a simple scanner can read correctly, even if it's a little messy. ✓
- C) Drawing perfect circles that never smudge.
- D) Deciding what Albert Einstein meant by his quote.
Answer: B) Making a pattern that a simple scanner can read correctly, even if it's a little messy.
From page 3
Where did Norman Joseph Woodland go to find peace and quiet to think about his barcode idea?
Choices
- A) To a big, quiet library full of books.
- B) To a new laboratory with lots of equipment.
- C) To his grandfather's apartment in Florida, where he drew patterns in the sand. ✓
- D) To a busy coffee shop to watch people.
Answer: C) To his grandfather's apartment in Florida, where he drew patterns in the sand.
From page 4
What was a major problem with Woodland's very first barcode design, which looked like a 'bullseye'?
Choices
- A) It was too colorful and hard to see.
- B) It was too small to be noticed by shoppers.
- C) Printing it neatly was difficult because the ink would spread out and bleed. ✓
- D) People didn't like how it looked like a target.
Answer: C) Printing it neatly was difficult because the ink would spread out and bleed.
From page 5
What new and clever idea did Woodland use for the linear barcode to make it work better?
Choices
- A) He used many different bright colors for the lines.
- B) He made the lines extra shiny so they would reflect more light.
- C) He used the ratio (how wide they are compared to each other) of lines and spaces to hold information. ✓
- D) He made all the lines very short and thin.
Answer: C) He used the ratio (how wide they are compared to each other) of lines and spaces to hold information.
From page 6
What two main parts did Woodland and Silver use to build their first barcode prototype?
Choices
- A) A small battery and a ringing bell.
- B) A simple flashlight and a magnifying glass.
- C) A 500-watt lamp and a photomultiplier tube. ✓
- D) A speaker and a microphone to hear the code.
Answer: C) A 500-watt lamp and a photomultiplier tube.
From page 7
What was the very first item that was scanned by a UPC barcode in a real store?
Choices
- A) A fresh loaf of bread from the bakery.
- B) A small can of yummy soup.
- C) A pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum. ✓
- D) A brand new toy car.
Answer: C) A pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum.
From page 9