Which historical retail innovation was the direct inspiration for the modern barcode system first adopted by supermarkets in the 1970s?

The modern retail landscape has been shaped by countless innovations throughout history. One of the most transformative technologies—the humble barcode—revolutionized inventory management and checkout processes worldwide. But do you know the fascinating historical origin of this ubiquitous retail technology? Test your knowledge of this pivotal retail innovation that bridged traditional commerce with the digital age.

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Morse code patterns used by railway companies for tracking freight shipments in the 1860s
A college student's solution to a grocery store owner's inventory challenge, inspired by Morse code dots and dashes
IBM's punch card system developed for the 1890 US Census, later adapted for retail
WWII military supply tracking system using standardized identification codes on ammunition boxes