When we swipe a credit card, we often overlook the incredible power of the technology that makes the transaction possible. A new timeline from Qualtrics is a powerful reminder of the centuries of technological advancement that make today’s secure payment options possible. The timeline highlights key inventions we’ve built upon, including the cash register, invented in 1906 by James Ritty. Ritty invented the register to help secure and track transactions from untrustworthy tellers pocketing change from the till. Computers and plastic have certainly revolutionized security. The first barcode transaction wasn’t completed until 1974 with the purchase of a pack of Wrigley’s gum. American Airlines introduced the first “buy now, pay later” Air Travel Card with American Express, and soon followed with its own credit card. E-commerce has transformed our needs once again, giving rise to QR code payments and “pay by touch” technology.
infographic by: www.qualtrics.com
