In what year was the world's first self-checkout system patented, marking a revolutionary shift in retail technology?

The retail landscape has been transformed by numerous technological innovations throughout history. One of the most impactful developments that changed how consumers interact with stores was the introduction of self-checkout systems. This invention shifted the traditional checkout paradigm and sparked debates about automation, job displacement, and consumer experience that continue today. Test your knowledge about this significant retail innovation that's now a standard fixture in stores worldwide.

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1984, by David R. Humble while working at CheckRobot Inc.
1992, by Howard Schneider at Optimal Robotics Corporation
1977, by IBM's Retail Systems Division
1998, by NCR Corporation as part of their retail automation initiative