Instant Index: Inventor of the Bar Code, Norman Woodland, Dies And our "instant index" tonight starts with something for everyone dreaming of a white christmas. Take a look at the map. The nation's top scientists looked at 20 years of data and estimate the state by state chance of a white christmas. And if you live in any of the areas that are snow white on the map, you have a good chance of at least one inch of snow on DECEMBER 25th. For instance, augusta, maine, up there in the right hand corner, has a 90% chance of a christmas snow. Those of us who live in the south should start lowering expectat expectations. And, this picture is a kind of christmas postcard rocketing through our inboxes today. Did you see it? A fully human variation of the department store sans. A baby fell asleep waiting for his chance, so, santa improvised, pretending to nod off, too. The crowd erupted in cheers and a new christmas classic was born. And, our person in the news is someone who has influenced your life. Can you guess what norman woodland did for you? Well, he was the engineer who invented the bar code. He did it when he heard a grocer complain that the checkout line should be automated. They'll be faster. So, he turned the morse code he learned as a boy scout into something new. And invented the patterns that identify products. 5 billion bar codes are scanned by computer every day. Woodland died of alz himmer's at the age of 91. And, don't forget, we want to know what you think, so, tweet me your thoughts for "instant index," @dianesawyer, every day.