Standards define how we live together and serve as a common language that moves us toward a better world. The history of standards goes hand in hand with the development of human civilization and technology.
From the very simple promise of "let's not make toys used by infants sharp" to credit cards in wallets, communications systems, and the weights and measures that gauge weight and length, standards are everywhere in our lives.
What are some representative standards that changed the world? And which standards changed the lives and economy of Koreans?
The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy gathered the views of 104 experts from industry, academia, research institutes, and the media to make standards easier for the public to understand and selected the top 10 standards each in the "global institutional sector" and the "Korea institutional sector."
◇ "Mobile communications"... chosen as the No. 1 standard that changed the world
What did experts pick as the No. 1 "standard that changed the world"? The experts chose "mobile communications."
Mobile communications advanced rapidly with each generation and changed our daily lives. Second-generation wireless communications ushered in the era of the "personal telephone," and in third generation (3G), the mobile web and video calls became possible. It was the true starting point of the mobile generation.
LTE (4G), which appeared in the 2010s, boosted speeds by dozens of times and opened the era of HD video streaming and high-spec mobile games. Now it is the 5G era. As ultra-high-speed wireless internet of up to 20 Gbps (gigabits per second) became widespread, it became the age of "Homo Mobilicus," surpassing desktops and laptops.
In addition, the following were selected (no particular order): ▲ barcodes and QR codes ▲ WWW (World Wide Web) ▲ Wi-Fi & Bluetooth ▲ PCs (personal computers) ▲ USB ▲ screws (bolts & nuts) ▲ container standards ▲ digital image and video compression technologies ▲ paper sizes (A0, B0).
Barcodes and QR codes are "visual data codes" for transmitting information quickly and accurately. Barcodes have a one-dimensional structure, and QR codes have a two-dimensional structure. A barcode is a code that represents information with vertical lines of varying thickness and spacing, which can be read by a laser scanner to quickly identify product information, among other things. A QR code is a two-dimensional code in an expanded grid pattern both horizontally and vertically. QR is short for "Quick Response." Various data such as numbers, letters, and URLs can be stored in a QR code.
The WWW standard became the driving force that evolved the web, once used only by researchers and experts, into a digital ecosystem that connected the entire world. Through the three promises of HTML, HTTP, and URL, it completed the language of homepages, access rules, and addressing systems, and based on these rules, created a foundation for anyone to build web pages and open them anywhere. As a result, various content was made public, and many say information was democratized.
◇ From screws and containers to A4... standards that changed everyday life
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are wireless connection standards that enable communication between devices and internet access without cables. Thanks to them, we can enjoy a life freely connected anytime, anywhere.
The PC was the starting point of the information age, became the foundation of digital work and creation, and drove the popularization of computing technology. PCs spread rapidly as IBM, an early developer, disclosed all the core rules, including the central processing unit (CPU), memory, and component slots. This kind of standard ensured compatibility, lowered component prices, and reduced the burden on buyers.
USB is a universal data transfer and power supply standard that simplified connections among diverse devices and opened the plug-and-play era. Even when manufacturers differed, the same cable could be used, broadening compatibility. In particular, the recent USB-C integrated smartphones, laptops, monitors, and chargers into a single port.
Screws (bolts and nuts) are the basic unit of machine assembly and a standard that formed the foundation of industrialization and manufacturing innovation.
Container standards secured efficiency and uniformity in international logistics, enabling innovation in global trade and supply chains.
Digital image and video compression technologies, represented by JPEG and MPEG, revolutionized the storage and transmission of multimedia content and drove the growth of the digital media industry.
Paper sizes (such as A0 and B0) increased the standardization of documents and the efficiency of printing, enabling unified document management and administrative systems worldwide.
◇ From "incandescent bulbs" to "transit cards"... eye-catching Korean standards
The top 10 standards that changed the lives and economy of Koreans also draw attention.
Starting with the incandescent bulb, the first item certified under the first Korea Standard (KS), there are the "Hangul keyboard," which formed the basis of internet powerhouse Korea, CDMA (code division multiple access) and memory semiconductors, which served as catalysts for Korea's entry into the ranks of advanced countries, and color TV.
Mask-related standards that everyone needed during the COVID-19 period changed daily life, and the standard for the appliance that represents Korea, the "kimchi refrigerator," changed the look of the kitchen.
Transit cards, which changed the culture of tokens and paper tickets, and the conversion of pyeong, once a uniquely Korean area measure, to the international metric standard of square meters (㎡) also changed daily life for Koreans.
"Size Korea," which standardized Koreans' body measurements to set furniture and clothing sizes, was also selected as a standard that changed the lives and economy of Koreans.
ChosunBiz plans to run a weekly special series with detailed stories on the top 10 standards that changed the world and the top 10 standards that changed the lives and economy of Koreans.