In the decades since bar codes first appeared on grocery shelves, engineers have developed technology to store complex information. The future of integrating graphics and optical-reading technology for data capture is bright. However, as with any innovation, there are challenges. That’s why organizations place a premium on professionals with the expertise acquired in Norfolk State University’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Electronics Engineering with a track in Microelectronics and Photonics program.
Most individuals are familiar with bar codes, or “the small image of lines (bars) and spaces that is affixed to retail store items, identification cards and postal mail to identify a particular product number, person or location” per TechTarget. Most are also probably familiar with the laser scanners that read these codes. These technologies are only growing more prevalent in our society: “As technology continues to evolve, bar codes will continue to play a critical role in the growth and success of businesses in the years to come,” according to Smart Business Daily.
Norfolk State’s fully online curriculum focuses on developing high-demand skills to overcome technical challenges. Courses such as Optoelectronic and Photonic Devices for Optical Communication cover the basics of optical fibers, sources, detectors and signal issues. The course also covers system design and testing. The Lasers and Photonics course introduces students to the principles of electromagnetics, interference and diffraction. Overall, the program’s comprehensive curriculum prepares graduates to become innovators in developing the next generation of high-speed scanners that will accelerate critical business operations.
The Barcode Boom
Overcoming the challenges and evolution of this space requires a new generation of engineers. There are benefits to manufacturing complex optical components for telecommunications, medicine, biomed imaging, space exploration and industrial applications. However, two questions arise: How does a manufacturer make scanning devices in high volume for broad applications while simultaneously producing highly specialized electronics for lower-demand use? How can professionals develop devices that require less frequent inspection and calibration than current technology?
As technological needs and applications become more complex, the demand for photonics engineers and related specializations grows significantly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 9% growth rate for careers in electronics engineering, which is much faster than the average for all other careers.
What Are Some Photonics Engineering Advancements?
Photonics is the science of using light to collect data and replace electronics in the transmission from input to analysis. Data moves 10 times faster via light, largely because light can accommodate vastly more digital information. For instance, one fiber-optic cable can carry several million phone calls. Per Applied Image, specific photonics-based applications include the following examples:
- Image quality testing relies on photonics to measure, confirm and calibrate data-capture devices such as cameras and machine-vision systems to meet specific quality standards.
- Digital measurement and inspection technology in manufacturing ensures optical sensors in production environments are identifying defects or errors to ensure quality control.
- Medical technology is rapidly adopting light-based technologies for diagnostics and treatment, such as laser surgery, which enables precise, minimally invasive procedures.
Increasingly digitized, consumer-driven markets must stay up to speed on photonics engineering innovations. “Although the speed of innovation in laser technology has been dropping, the creation of integrated devices combining lasers, sensors, and optics could usher in a new age of opportunity,” McKinsey & Company predicts.
What Is the Evolution of Bar Code Technology?
The amount of data that can be stored on a bar code depends on which of the more than 30 types of images are available. The simplest data, used in publications and periodicals, contains eight characters. The most complex existing bar code technology, QR codes, can contain more than 7,000 characters and provide access to apps and internet resources. When used in industrial applications, bar codes of any complexity are used in conjunction with light-enabled scanners to accelerate data collection and transmission.
Integrating the technologies offers promising solutions to the ever-increasing demand for data-driven decision-making. “It is not just a relic of the past but a critical component of future technological advancements, particularly in telecommunications and computing,” Synopsys says of bar code and scanning technology.
Innovative, emerging applications are already positively impacting business operations, data protection and sustainability. Case studies published by Bar Code Factory include the following:
- Honeywell uses advanced technology to ensure its top-of-the-line industrial printer meets regulatory compliance for bar code clarity and verification.
- A retail chain integrated artificial intelligence, machine learning and scanning capabilities to support real-time analytics that reduced annual overstock costs by 20%.
- A hospital system using advanced scanning technology to track medication dosage and patient records significantly improved regulatory compliance and patient care.
How Do Engineers Acquire Specialized Expertise to Grow Their Careers?
Norfolk State’s online M.S. Electronics Engineering – Microelectronics and Photonics program prepares graduates for engineering design careers in high-growth sectors. They can work in areas ranging from quantum mechanics to power lasers, sensors and optical systems.
In addition to its rigorous curriculum, the program’s flexible format offers another attractive quality. The streamlined admissions process and 100% online curriculum are ideal for working professionals who are ready to take their careers to the next level. For those more interested in careers in the biomedical engineering field, the online M.S. in Electronics Engineering with a track in Biomedical Engineering program from Norfolk State equips graduates for biomedical engineer, biomedical instrumentation design engineer and bio-instrumentation system integrator roles.
Learn more about Norfolk State University’s online Master of Science in Electronics Engineering with a track in Microelectronics and Photonics program.