Font Detective and Barcodes Overview

Font Detective Thomas Phinney

• Thomas Phinney is a font detective.
• Phinney's career began when a lawyer asked him to analyse a suspected forgery.
• He uses a digital microscope and pixel counting to analyze fonts.
• His first case, named "The case of the Wicked Will," involved deducing that the printer used for the document didn't exist at the suggested date.
• Phinney's website, Sciencegothic.com, showcases a typeface creator capable of representing over 500 moods and feelings.
• Phinney's main job eventually shifted to font forensics in 2018.
• Font forensics cases are categorized into two types: Nefarious, involving ill-intent forgeries, and "Stupidly Tiny," determining if documents meet specific requirements.

The Barcode's Journey

• The barcode was inspired by the circular bullseye barcode designed by Joe Woodland in the 1940s.
• The first automated checkstands using the barcode were installed at Kroger Kenwood Plaza in Cincinnati in 1972.
• The barcode needed to be universal, resulting in the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Universal Product Identification Code.
• IBM joined the race at the last minute, employing Joe Woodland and creating the rectangular barcode.
• The rectangular barcode faced skepticism from manufacturers initially but took off when mass merchandisers like Kmart adopted the system in 1980.

Amazon Go

• Amazon Go convenience stores operate on a "just walk out" concept, eliminating the need for traditional checkouts.
• The technology behind Amazon Go stores includes computer vision, sensor fusion, deep learning, and other cutting-edge elements.
• The technology keeps track of the inventory of items customers pick up, ensuring they are charged accurately upon leaving the store.

MISSA (1992-2012)

• This artwork consists of 100 pairs of army boots, created using mono-filament and a metal grid.
• The piece is part of the Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal collection, housed in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
• The title, “MISSA,” means “to be sent” in Latin and also serves as the origin of the word “mass.”
• The 100 pairs of army boots are arranged uniformly, with all the right shoes lifted in unison.
• This positioning may carry connotations of the mindlessness and treachery often associated with war.
• The negative spaces in the composition contribute to the ominous feeling, suggesting a historical context of war and conflict.
• The grayscale presentation adds to the atmosphere, letting viewers reflect on war.

How Many Pyramids Could Thy Build?

• In 1908, engineer E.S. Wheeler entertained the idea of building a pyramid in Detroit.
• The proposed location for the pyramid was a 12-acre site in Detroit, in Cadillac's village.
• Wheeler estimated the cost of constructing the pyramid to be almost 1 billion in today's money.
• He suggested that the construction would require 24 million days of work.
• Using today's population figures, Wheeler whimsically suggested that 2.5 pyramids could be constructed daily.

Cryptic Artwork 2: La Camera Insabbiata

• "La Camera Insabbiata" is a unique VR experience showcased in the outdoor plaza of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
• It is inspired by Laurie Anderson and Hsin-Chien Huang's previous work, "Chalkroom."
• "La Camera Insabbiata" delves into the creation of exclusive worlds, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and memories.
• It offers participants a calming, yet abstract experience, inviting them into virtual thinking spaces that defy the conventions of physics and reason.
• The virtual journey goes through eight rooms: The Cloud, Anagram, Dog, Water, Sound, Dance, Writing, and Tree rooms.
• As participants move through these virtual spaces, the fabric of reality seems to unravel.

Explore the fascinating world of font forensics and the evolution of barcodes. Discover how Thomas Phinney uses specialized techniques to uncover font-related mysteries, as well as the historical development of barcodes from their inception to modern-day applications. This quiz delves into both topics, highlighting significant milestones and key figures.