Fifty years ago, the first retail barcode was scanned, marking a pivotal moment in computing history by linking a physical product to its digital identity. To commemorate this milestone and in conjunction with Cambridge Tech Week, Orca Scan is excited to announce the launch of a new exhibition, ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Barcode Scanning’, in collaboration with Datalogic and the Centre for Computing History. Running from September 5th to October 6th, the exhibition explores the significant role that barcodes have played in the history of computers and technology. It will showcase how barcodes have evolved and revolutionised various industries, from healthcare to retail. Whilst this exhibition is about celebrating 50 years of barcode technology, it also looks forward to the next 50 years, and visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the next generation of barcodes and their exciting possibilities. John Doherty, CEO and Founder of Orca Scan said: “Barcodes have been central to technological evolution for the past 50 years; they are used and scanned billions of times daily across multiple industries. This exhibition not only commemorates the remarkable journey of barcodes but also aims to inspire innovation for the next 50 years. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to collaborate with The Centre for Computing History and Datalogic to bring this to life.”

Orca Scan is the one-stop platform for all things barcode that allows companies to build
enterprise-grade solutions without code. Since 2016, they have worked with over 355,000
users worldwide to simplify barcode tracking. The collaboration with Datalogic, a global leader in the automatic data capture and process automation markets specialised in the designing and production of barcode readers, has allowed for pieces of barcode history to be available to view for the first time - including a model of the famous scanner used in the Simpsons opening titles.

Jonathan Brown, Channel Sales Manager for Northern Europe at Datalogic, said: “It has been a delight to work with Orca Scan on the forthcoming Barcode Exhibition and Launch Event at the Cambridge Centre of Computing History. Orca Scan's innovative expertise is perfectly aligned with our solutions to improve customer experience, and we're proud to have collaborated with them on this excellent educational display. The Exhibition tells the story of the barcode, how it has evolved over the last 50 years and the new innovations that are improving supply chains across a multitude of industries. It will be supported with some of our own historic devices on display.”

The Centre for Computing History, home to the exhibition, tells the fascinating story of
how computers became an inextricable part of all our lives and changed our world within
just 80 years. Its CEO, Lisa McGerty, said: “Our museum is a perfect location to celebrate
50 years of the barcode - we are delighted to have been working with Orca Scan and
Datalogic to develop this exciting new exhibit.”

This announcement comes in the wake of Orca Scan’s many recent achievements, including the launch of the revolutionary GS1 Digital Link solution and winning the coveted ‘Tech for Good’ award at the 2024 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards.

For more information about the exhibition, please contact press@orcascan.com.

For more information about the Centre for Computing History, please contact Lizzie Salter: lizzie@computinghistory.org.uk.

Notes to editors:
To attend the official opening of the exhibition, please register here.

Photo shows (Left to Right): Adrian Page-Mitchell, Collections and Volunteer Coordinator at The Centre for Computing History; Lisa McGerty, CEO at The Centre for Computing History; and Tim Hill, Partnerships Manager at Orca Scan.

Date : 30-08-2024