History and Timeline of Barcodes and RFID
Year Start	Year End	Field	Development	Description
1945		RFID	Invention	Leon Theremin invented an espionage tool for the Soviet government which is recognized as the first known RFID device.
1948		Barcode	End User Initiative	A grocer, Bernard Siliver, undertakes the project to develop system to automatically read product information.  Silver tells friend Joseph Woodland about his idea.
1949		Barcode	Patent	Woodland and Silver filed their patent application for the "Classifying Apparatus and Method", October 20.
1952		Barcode	Patent	First Patent for Barcode (Patent #2,612,994) issued to inventors Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver on October 7.
1958		Barcode	Reader Development	Gordon Gould invents the laser.
1966		Barcode	Commercialized.	The barcode is commercialized.
1966		Barcode	Standards	The barcode is commercialized but it is soon realized that some industry standards were required.
1966		Barcode	Reader Development	Photocells read printed barcode patterns.
1967		Barcode	Installation	Barcode scanning system install at a Kroger store in Cincinatti.
1969		Barcode	Standards	Logicon asked by NAFC to develop a proposal for an industry-wide barcode system.
1970		Barcode	Reader	Monarch Marking is the first company to produce barcode equipment for retail trade use (using UGPIC).
1970		Barcode	Standards	The Universal Grocery Products Identification Code or UGPIC was written by Logicon Inc.
1973		Barcode	Standards	George J. Laurer evolves the UGPIC into the UPC.
1973		RFID	Patent	First U.S. patent for an active RFID tag with rewritable memory on January 23 to Mario W. Cardullo, U.S. Patent 3,713,148.  Mario started ComServ.
1974		Barcode	Installation	The first U.P.C. scanner was installed at a Marsh's supermarket in Troy, Ohio in June.
1974		Barcode	Scan	The first product, a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum, was scanned at a check out counter (a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum).
1975		Barcode	Commercialized.	Symbol Technologies is founded.
1980		Barcode	Reader Development	Symbol Technologies introduces the first hand-held scanner.
1981		Barcode	End User Initiative	United States Department of Defense adopted the use of code 39 for marking all products sold to the United States Military.
1984		Barcode	End User Initiative	Only 15,000 suppliers are using barcodes.  Wal-Mart requires use.  See 1987.
1985		RFID	Commercialized	Tolltags are commercialized by a group of scientist from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
1986		Barcode	Media	Frontline Solution's editors notes that barcodes "there's no discernable financial payback, but input accuracy is improved and purchasing decisions are easier to make with the scanned data."
1986		Barcode	Standards	National Mass Retailing Institute's (NMRI's) decision to endorse the Universal Product Code (UPC) for retail point-of-sale applications.
1986		Barcode	End User Initiative(s)	Barcoding becomes vital to warehouse and manufacturing systems.
1987		Barcode	End User Initiative	Sears moved from optical scanning to barcodes.
1987		Barcode	End User Initiative	Since 1984 barcode mandate from Wal-Mart, 60,000 new suppliers adopt barcoding.
1988		Barcode	Legislation	Pedigree laws for pharmaceuticals signed into law by Reagan
1988		RFID	Media	Frontline Solution's runs first cover story on RFID.
1989		Pop!	Patent	Jon Cameron files for "Thermochromic Barcode."
1991		RFID	Commercialized	Texas Instruments established the RFID Systems group as a worldwide business becoming the first multinational semiconductor company to develop and market radio frequency identification systems.
1991		RFID	End User Initiative	World's first open highway electronic tolling system in Oklahoma.
1994		Barcode	Standards	Barcoded compliance labeling becomes standard.
1997		RFID	End User Initiative	Hong Kong mass transit offers RFID payment system.
1998		RFID	End User Initiative	Malaysia issues first "e-Passport" with embedded RFID technology.
1999		RFID	Standards	MIT creates Auto-ID Center to develop "next generation" barcode.  See 2003.
1999		RFID	Standards	EPCglobal announces it has finalized its first global standards for RFID.  Industry does not adopt.
2002	2003	Barcode	End User Initiative	Retailer Cabela's implements UPC scanning.
2002	2005	RFID	Media	RFID is current business rage.
2003		RFID	End User Initiative	Wal-Mart announces RFID requirements in July for top 100 suppliers.
2003		RFID	Standards	Auto-ID Center closes. See 1999.
2003		RFID	End User Initiative	Wal-Mart Issues Mandate to its top 100 suppliers.
2003		RFID	End User Initiative	DOD Issues Mandate to its top 100 suppliers.
2004		RFID	End User Initiative	EPCglobal ratifies Gen2 Standard.
2004		Barcode	Legislation	Barcode requirements for pharmaceuticals signed into law.
2004		RFID	End User Initiative	Target Issues RFID Mandate.
2004		RFID	End User Initiative	Albertson's Issues RFID Mandate.
2004		RFID	Legislation	FDA approves first human RFID implant.
2004		RFID	End User Initiative	Metro AG Issues Mandate.
2004		Pop!	Commercialized	Pop! Technology signs first contract.
2004		Pop!	Patent	Jon Cameron issued patent for "Thermochromic Barcode" and Pop! Technology started.
2004		Pop!	Commercialized	Pop! Technology introduces the first active barcode, the aPC, for the beverage industry.  The aPC launches on over 150 brands.
2005		RFID	End User Initiative	DOD mandate for suppliers of high- value goods in January.
2005		Pop!	End User Initiative	Food Lion signs on to introduce aPC on 150+ labels.
2005		Pop!	Install / Scan	Pop! installs at Food Lion with 150+ labels and 9 wineries.
2005		Pop!	Invention	Pop! Technology introduces the sPC, or Safety Product Code, to assure product safety using traditional scanning technology and barcodes.
2006		Barcode	Legislation	Pedigree legislation of 1988 planned for implementation.
2006		Barcode	Legislation	Barcodes mandate for pharaceuticals goes into effect.
2006		RFID	End User Initiative	NYC subway tests RFID using Mastercard's Paypass.
2006		RFID	End User Initiative	Wal-Mart announces RFID requirements for another 300 suppliers for a total of 600 that have been mandated to adopted RFID.  AMR Research estimates projected cost for each supplier implementing RFID is between $12 million and $23 million.
2006		Pop!	Invention	BTI and Pop! Technology introduce the iPC to prevent anti-counterfeiting and barcode switching (barcode fraud).
2006		Barcode	End User Initiative	Wall Street Journal reports on "barcode switching" schemes by consumers and organized crime.
2008		Barcode	End User Initiative	Consumers rapidly adopt mobile barcoding for smart phones.
2009		Barcode	Invention	MIT  announces the Bokode - a miniature barcode.