Applications & Effects
Consider the following applications of ICT as used at a checkout in a large modern supermarket of the 90's:
- Each item is swiped over a bar code reader. The bar code is printed on the packaging by the manufacturer.
- The computer looks up the current price listed against the bar code in a database.
- Discounts or loyalty credits are taken care of.
- The prices for all items are added up to provide a total - usually shown on a digital display.
- The customer's debit card is scanned and the money is automatically transferred from the customer's bank account to the supermarket's account. If real cash is used then the correct amount of change is calculated.
- An itemised receipt is printed.
- Each item is automatically reordered from the warehouse via cable and made ready for the next delivery.
- At a later stage various charts can be easily produced to compare monthly sales, calculate profits, etc.