barcodes paste! barcodes were first used as a way to track trains back in the 60's. on april 3, 1973 the Universal Product Code (UPC) was established. on june 26, 1974 "a single pack of chewing gum became the first retail product sold with the help of a scanner." researchers have placed barcodes on bees to track mating habits, hospital patients wear barcode bracelets, ID's now have barcodes. someday we'll have them on the back of our necks or on our forearms. 021002 ... mhmm we've moved beyond them see: microchips 021002 ... squint knows useless facts hey you said you'd deliver it to ME. and i knew the gum thing. 021002 what's it to you? who go blather from