What inspired the invention of the first barcode system that would eventually transform retail?

The modern retail landscape was forever changed by the invention of the barcode system. This seemingly simple pattern of lines revolutionized inventory management, checkout processes, and supply chain logistics worldwide. But do you know the fascinating origin story behind this ubiquitous technology? Test your knowledge about one of the most influential retail innovations in history!

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A grocery executive drew lines in sand while sitting on a beach, realizing patterns could encode product information
MIT researchers were developing a way to track nuclear materials during the Manhattan Project
IBM engineers accidentally discovered it while trying to create a new computer punch card system
A librarian created a visual classification system to speed up book checkout