The first Universal Product Code (UPC) scan took place in 1974 when a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum was scanned at a supermarket checkout. This marked the beginning of a new era in retail and inventory management, streamlining the checkout process and improving efficiency. The introduction of barcodes revolutionized the way products were tracked and sold, becoming a fundamental aspect of modern commerce.

The first universal product code scan in 1974 symbolized the datafication of everyday life, inspiring literary anxieties about identity, surveillance, and automated consumption. Poets like Kathy Acker and William Gibson explored these themes, reflecting on the implications of technology on human experience.