How Do Barcodes Work | Earth Science

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  • Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
  • James May explains how barcodes work, and how they avoid making mistakes.
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    Here at BBC Earth Science we answer all your curious questions about science in the world around you. If there’s a question you have that we haven’t yet answered or an experiment you’d like us to try let us know in the comments on any of our videos and it could be answered by one of our Earth Science experts.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 265

  • @zamarronelchingon
    @zamarronelchingon 8 років тому +77

    Anyone as stupidly fascinated as I am of how genius this is? Such simple technology yet so efficient

    • @tiaanvdriel
      @tiaanvdriel 6 років тому

      zec i

    • @westafricandiamonds4387
      @westafricandiamonds4387 6 років тому +2

      zec I just want to go steal and feel confident just throwing shit in my purse and not having to rip tags and cut barcodes off stuff. That's the only reason I'm watching this.

    • @Arounadabout
      @Arounadabout 6 років тому

      Beautiful Diamond
      The alarm will still trip if the items are in ur purse unless you remove the tags and barcodes first

  • @EJ-ov4kw
    @EJ-ov4kw 2 роки тому +2

    James May is disgustingly under rated. Entertainment characters are a large of our modern culture, if he cares to be or not - he is one. James May has been a part of many peoples lives and experiences vicariously. I hope he's humble enough at this point to recognize the fact that he has, indeed, brought joy and time spent worth while, to his viewers and fan base. I doubt he'll ever read this, but Bravo and thank you Doctor Captian slow.
    P.s. I am a music man myself, having studied audio engineering/music production. I would love to see the world of music through your ears, Please try to make that happen, if at all possible. Thanks again for your work.
    Eric Gordon - Long Island, NY.

  • @CrimsonFleshgaming
    @CrimsonFleshgaming 8 років тому +22

    2:09 why am i laughing so hard

  • @katyg.8912
    @katyg.8912 7 років тому +8

    3:37 , The Terraria Magic Mirror sound upon recall :D

    • @DavrK
      @DavrK 5 років тому

      I checked the comments just to see if someone noticed it lol

  • @JohanGSolaqa93
    @JohanGSolaqa93 11 років тому +1

    How could any one dislike such a video ?

  • @oliviagenco6634
    @oliviagenco6634 6 років тому +2

    I don't know why but I love this. I have watched it 3 times because it makes me happy

    • @JustCoNa
      @JustCoNa 5 років тому

      Approval Needed

  • @FranklinW
    @FranklinW 11 років тому

    The difference between 'their' and 'there' is important if it impacts how one understands a sentence. It doesn't take much to figure out what Dale meant from context, but in some sentences it can cause actual problems. Someone not familiar with English may also be confused by the different spellings.

  • @Dank_Lulu
    @Dank_Lulu 11 років тому

    Definately the main reason why I started watching,however the info and graphics are quite entertaining as well... ^^

  • @noneofyourbuisness7
    @noneofyourbuisness7 8 років тому +7

    Can't... Stop... Watching these

  • @seyeruoynepotsuj
    @seyeruoynepotsuj 11 років тому

    I was in Tescos this morning at the Self-Checkout machine thing and I thought 'Headsqueeze should do a How-Barcodes-Work video.'
    Thank you Head Squeeze. :)

  • @bombaya85
    @bombaya85 11 років тому

    Agreed.Though I find some of the others interesting, I mainly see a full video whenever Mr. May is talking.

  • @man_on_wheelz
    @man_on_wheelz 11 років тому

    That turbo is driven by your exhaust. Its a small, rather light wheel that spins really remarkably fast, hellified rpm's thus pushing and breaking the air giving you that amazing whining noise. Think of a small scale version of when you whip your belt to your pants through the air quickly and you hear that "whoosh" sound. it's that sort of affect but smaller so it's more of a piercing noise.

  • @2Tube22productions
    @2Tube22productions 11 років тому

    I'm subbed just for James May...

  • @DemonXeron
    @DemonXeron 11 років тому

    I was hoping James would see it and have the time to translate it. I am glad you enjoyed doing so, however.

  • @BlackMagixFTW
    @BlackMagixFTW 11 років тому +3

    "Space baa baa space baa baa" Absolutely pissing my self :P

  • @theboarman
    @theboarman 11 років тому

    the outtakes of this is funy

  • @Yaddlezap
    @Yaddlezap 11 років тому

    One time I scanned the bar code of a Hulk comic book from the early 80s at Wal-Mart in the early 2000s. It recognized that it had Hulk in the title but the price was in the hundreds.

  • @106640guy
    @106640guy 11 років тому

    Nice video!

  • @Cerberus2k7
    @Cerberus2k7 11 років тому

    You should do one on what the information on the side of tires mean since Jeremy and Richard didn't want to let you explain.

  • @PhilippeCarphin
    @PhilippeCarphin 11 років тому

    I translated your comment and had a lot of fun doing it!

  • @Kookanoodles
    @Kookanoodles 11 років тому

    Imagine having dinner with James May and Stephen Fry. You'd basically become a walking encyclopaedia.

  • @Premislao89
    @Premislao89 11 років тому

    If i understood you well then its all about changing rotation speed of turbine, air changes speed and whistle usually when you change gear, and when your turbine is set up to get more out of it(thats why many cars having turbo dont make this sound) :P let me know if thats what you meant.

  • @MinecraftSss
    @MinecraftSss 10 років тому +1

    I love the BAR and SPACE PICTRUES XD

  • @williamsrhyn
    @williamsrhyn 11 років тому

    when i was working at a shop in the past, one of the bottles didnt have all the barcode, it was mostly white, anyway i grabbed a black pen and filled in all the lines, and it worked

  • @DaffyDaffyDaffy33322
    @DaffyDaffyDaffy33322 11 років тому

    0:03 Actually, "Universal Product Code" (or UPC) is just a type of barcode. The one you showed in this video is UPC-A.

  • @icarus42046
    @icarus42046 11 років тому

    Excellent video, I'm a printer of Pro labels and I like your exclamation of the algorithm for check digits. SF Labels

  • @trippyhippy12
    @trippyhippy12 11 років тому

    I would love if this channel did some stuff about cars I'm not speaking power tests but stuff like what you're asking or like why an American 8000cc V8 makes as much or little BHP as a 1600cc Euro or Japanese car even when you take turbos/superchargers out of the equation or how those fancy differentials you get in new FWD hot hatches work you know the details James is normally interrupted while explaining by snoring etc on Top Gear

  • @what-uc
    @what-uc 7 років тому +1

    Each digit is represented by 4 bars (alternating black and white) using 7 units, so there are 3 transitions in 6 possible positions. This is the data.. That gives 20 permutations, 10 permutations for the left side, and the reverse 10 for the right side. The 4th transition is always in position 7 and confirms the end of the digit and the start of the next.

  • @KEVTODAWORLD
    @KEVTODAWORLD 11 років тому

    This was really cool, everyday things we use without thinking explained why they work and how they do.
    This is what I subscribed for. Less crap more this!!

  • @lawrence4690
    @lawrence4690 11 років тому

    very honestly, i watch this channel just because of James...

  • @Myserval
    @Myserval 11 років тому

    3:41 That sound is used in Terarria. Im not sure why I'm so good at that...

  • @vicegirlsusa
    @vicegirlsusa 10 років тому

    Thanks, May!

  • @Ivan-ej7ds
    @Ivan-ej7ds 11 років тому

    I love this channel!

  • @awesomeness00100
    @awesomeness00100 11 років тому

    very Interesting

  • @rager86
    @rager86 11 років тому

    Good Work, 47

  • @DragorElite
    @DragorElite 7 років тому

    0:26 "absolutely lit" bruuuuuuuuuh

  • @AdamCradamParkes
    @AdamCradamParkes 11 років тому

    it is just a 2 dimensional code with a tonne of validation which allows it to still be read even if it is a different shape (such as a heart or star) or if about 60% (don't quote me on the %) of it is mangled

  • @samuellee9752
    @samuellee9752 11 років тому

    did you say?: Thanks, James May, for this wonderful video.

  • @5just51
    @5just51 11 років тому

    I thought a bar code was just a bunch on lines used to catch shoplifters. Didn't know it was so complicated!

  • @schmittelt
    @schmittelt 11 років тому

    ...and the man who bought that first pack of chewing gum was so happy, so proud of taking part in this historical event that he went to the museum every day for over a year and sat for hours next to the display and just.......stared at the gum.

  • @Shirdel
    @Shirdel 11 років тому

    What's the sound effect at 3:38 ? I'm sure I've heard it in a video game somewhere, Worms possibly.

  • @Wallace773
    @Wallace773 11 років тому

    finally something interesting

  • @Guardian016
    @Guardian016 11 років тому

    In my country, Japan, we call a comb over "barcode bald" and it was featured by BBC Four in the series Hidden Japan. Perhaps how this hairstyle works would be a good topic to talk about.

  • @RandomallyChosen
    @RandomallyChosen 11 років тому

    2:13 onwards cracks me up :D

  • @DeclanOpp
    @DeclanOpp 10 років тому +2

    Can anyone help me? Years ago I saw a video on a new type of barcode, which essentially integrated the data INTO a design of lines. I think the computer analysed the thickness and length of lines or something. I remember the guy being excited because they gave it to designers and after a week they came back with things including what looked like intricate drawings of birds, and whole branches of leaves. Of course, the slightest gaps between lines are what is noted by the computer, but humans don't notice them at all.
    Any clue at all? Impossible to find by googling without the name as far as I can tell!

  • @TechTimeWS9
    @TechTimeWS9 9 років тому +4

    Captain slow on youtube, I'm in.

  • @sayeedrehan
    @sayeedrehan 11 років тому

    Top Gear!

  • @Akirilus
    @Akirilus 11 років тому

    james is just too good of a presenter.

  • @Powerex199999
    @Powerex199999 11 років тому

    You're not alone my friend. :)

  • @desertfox2020
    @desertfox2020 11 років тому

    Emissions and other government regulations, cost cutting, keeping prices down, and laziness.

  • @ScottKAR
    @ScottKAR 10 років тому

    No drinks on the pool table. This is the true bar code.

  • @theMifyoo
    @theMifyoo 11 років тому

    ok, I think I understand. So there isn't really a pattern from going from 0 to 1 and so forth, rather each one was assigned a pattern prior without real regard to the translation(up or down) of the pattern, or is there a specific formula that you put the numbers into to get from number to bar-code?

  • @jaker20101
    @jaker20101 11 років тому

    Muy interesanté

  • @WCGwkf
    @WCGwkf 11 років тому

    approval needed! approval needed. nobody speaks like that hahahaha

  • @caseye11is
    @caseye11is 11 років тому

    James could you please explain torque please?

  • @kelvintwt
    @kelvintwt 11 років тому

    Make a video on how QR codes work!

  • @rdxdt
    @rdxdt 7 років тому +1

    You described EAN13 but there are a lot of barcodes standards and they may or may not contain a check digit.

  • @etproductions666
    @etproductions666 7 років тому +1

    Am I missing something?
    Each "element" of the bar-code is divided into 8 "modules", not 7.
    Because each module is a bit, and the 8 of them form a byte, wich can be referenced in a ascii-table to work out what didgit it is.
    the number 5 is "00110101" (bar-bar-space-space-bar-space-bar-space), and the number 1 is "00110001" (bar-bar-space-space-bar-bar-bar-space)
    It really looks like they made a mess of this.

    • @MustrumRidiekel
      @MustrumRidiekel 7 років тому

      Not really. 8 'modules' would give you 2^8 = 256 characters to display, which is indeed used in the ascii table. But the ascii table includes amongst other things, the whole alphabet. A barcode is just digits. This means that 4 modules (or 2^4 = 16) would've been enough to form all 10 digits. I guess they chose 2^7 = 128 for extensibility.

  • @TheSmeep
    @TheSmeep 11 років тому

    The number on the barcode at 1:42, when searched for on my windows phone turns up an arabic book store. Strange :D

  • @PelegTsadok
    @PelegTsadok 11 років тому

    This is binary ASCII.
    Look it up on wikipedia.
    ASCII is the the type of coding that translates a binary code like this to text that you see on the screen.

  • @GamerJayR
    @GamerJayR 11 років тому

    Someone could use H-Ternary to create a barcode system that ignores blemishes on the barcode, filter that out, and still be able to read the code itself

  • @JesterMN
    @JesterMN 11 років тому

    The left side is 0011001
    and the right side is 1100110. So it's just the opposite of what it was, space on the left, is bar on the right. Either side of the two bars in the middle.

  • @desertfox2020
    @desertfox2020 11 років тому

    As someone who, in fact, scans barcodes all day in a warehouse setting, I've always wondered this

  • @BoomBoomBrucey
    @BoomBoomBrucey 11 років тому

    I'd like to know about other barcodes too, like QR codes.

  • @JustVinny
    @JustVinny 7 років тому +9

    damn a barcode is a nifty piece of tech ain't it :D

  • @dalezeffertt
    @dalezeffertt 11 років тому

    I want to know where he gets his shirts from, there amazing :D

  • @MrJosescaria
    @MrJosescaria 10 років тому +4

    Thanks - what about addressing QR codes which is the trend of today?

  • @Ryzza5
    @Ryzza5 11 років тому

    Well done, although was hoping you'd include QR codes in that video

  • @aidaschroder4025
    @aidaschroder4025 11 років тому

    Interesting......

  • @planetweed
    @planetweed 11 років тому +1

    So i was born on the same day they first scanned a barcode,cool!

  • @martyg565
    @martyg565 11 років тому

    This is interesting. I work in a warehouse. I thought I had "barcode talk" cracked one time... turns out I was wrong.

  • @KEVTODAWORLD
    @KEVTODAWORLD 11 років тому

    By the way, a turbo charger video would be great, I love hearing mine 'blow off' and would love to why it does.

  • @MelindadelosSantos
    @MelindadelosSantos 11 років тому

    So fantastic, so enlightening...makes me wish George Boole could see this video! :-D

  • @nickrich56
    @nickrich56 11 років тому

    Since '74 ! And the ATM just before that. We've had 40 yrs of Big Brother and hardly noticed ...

  • @saturnxvi8737
    @saturnxvi8737 11 років тому

    Please a Episode on how Stealth Planes work???????????????

  • @dameer9207
    @dameer9207 3 роки тому

    this guys in top gear

  • @tanhockjun
    @tanhockjun 11 років тому

    Mr James May,how do power inverters work?

  • @Baronstone
    @Baronstone 11 років тому

    That's because its not binary per say. While it does use 1s and 0s like binary, as in each location is either on or off, the whole system is completely different from binary and set patterns indicate a fixed value. That's how it works and why you're confused that its not real binary counting.

  • @padraigkenny84
    @padraigkenny84 11 років тому

    If it's OO I I OO I on the left,
    then it's I I OO I I O on the right. Just invert it.
    They only have 10 digits to represent, so they made it so that both left and right versions are unique but represent the same number.

  • @dakduif100
    @dakduif100 11 років тому

    Love the channel, hate the whining about getting more subscribers

  • @RebelsHimself
    @RebelsHimself 7 років тому

    2 things:
    it's not designed by a computer, but by a human
    and the beginning is always a country code (first 3 digits) where you say it's the product type
    please correct me if I'm wrong, because I want James to be right, but I can see at the barcodenumber wich country it orginated
    example: starting with 50 means it is produced in the UK

  • @AsemKhanfar
    @AsemKhanfar 11 років тому

    We go to english lessons to learn how to communicate properly and efficiently so others can understand what we are trying to communicate in a clear manner. Now, if you failed to do so, someone must correct you so that you learn your mistake and avoid it next time.
    Otherwise, the rules of language will be lost and people will communicate in an inefficient manner, causing loss of time, difficulty in understanding and many many mistakes no one wants to happen.

  • @theMifyoo
    @theMifyoo 11 років тому

    I am confused, because when we were learning binary 1 would be 01 and could have an infinite number of leading 0s usually though they would be in groups of 8 or 4, resulting in 1 being either 00000001, or 0001. How is 1, 0011001? how does the system work exactly. Because it does not seem like exactly binary.

  • @jaker20101
    @jaker20101 11 років тому

    That's my scent yo. Pure Sport.

  • @Taino21
    @Taino21 11 років тому

    I have a Question. Is it really possible to tell if a person is lying to you just by physically analysing them?

  • @benpeach23
    @benpeach23 11 років тому

    This is UA-cam, not an English lesson. The comments section is here for us to comment on the video, just because Dale typed the wrong word doesn't mean he has to get tons of negative votes and you don't need to correct him. We all knew what he meant.

  • @Iceiam
    @Iceiam 11 років тому

    What does he mean when he says the numbers on the right are the optical opposite of those on the left, i thought each bar represented a number unique itself :S?

  • @kristianbrandt3012
    @kristianbrandt3012 11 років тому

    So essentially James May's Q&A is just all the things James isn't allowed to explain on Top Gear.

  • @TilmanBaumann
    @TilmanBaumann 11 років тому

    Lol, the EAN code at 1:44 is for Black Socks for Apple iPads.

  • @laharl2k
    @laharl2k 11 років тому

    shouldnt 5 be space space bar bar bar space bar? i mean, with 7 bits you get up to 127 which is the ascii limit,which makes sense and the one is 0011001 which is 49 which is one in ascii. you said 5 was 0111001 but 1 is 0011001...so it is either wrong or the order is arbitrary (or hard to figure)

  • @DigitalPhantom
    @DigitalPhantom 10 років тому +1

    Good Video BUT there is an error at 3:44. It will be 107 modulo 10 which is 7 not 3.

    • @mjgarner86
      @mjgarner86 9 років тому

      That's not an error. The formula is 10 minus (number modulo 10) or 10 - (107 % 10) = 3

    • @DigitalPhantom
      @DigitalPhantom 9 років тому

      Mike Garner I know the formula is 10 - (n % 10); but there is no mention of that in the video

    • @mjgarner86
      @mjgarner86 9 років тому +1

      "The check digit is then the number required to make this total up to the nearest number divisible by 10." n % 10 gives you the digit in the ones place (7), but to make it total up to the nearest number divisible by 10 (110), you need 3 more.

  • @DevilboyScooby
    @DevilboyScooby 9 років тому +1

    Bar Bar Space Space, have you any code? Bleep bleep boop boop, bleep bleep bloop.
    Didn't know Mercedes cars had barcodes.

  • @hi-fidude6670
    @hi-fidude6670 8 років тому

    gonna make a remix of space space baba

  • @schmittelt
    @schmittelt 11 років тому

    ...and when museum-goers would walk up to the display, he would stand up and smile and gesture to the gum, point at the plaque and point to himself. Then he would wring his hands fretfully waiting to be showered with presents and gifts. He died a lonely and broken-hearted man.Bitter. Very bitter. It's a sad story. They say his ghost still walks the halls of the museum...

  • @paperholders
    @paperholders 6 років тому +1

    How did you learn this? By a binary computer?

  • @Evi3142
    @Evi3142 10 років тому

    I didn´t really understand that optical illusion part. had it to do with the fact that 1 is not the binary one (00001)? could someone please explain this?

  • @Exopandora
    @Exopandora 11 років тому

    are you still working on your hangoverless beer ?

  • @QuantumJay
    @QuantumJay 11 років тому

    I must say,James is rather comedic at times xD

  • @MadeinHell2
    @MadeinHell2 11 років тому

    There are other people on the channel?

  • @OG1GTP
    @OG1GTP 11 років тому

    Hello