December 13, 2004
Augmented Bar Code, The
According to Dara O'Rourke, a U.C. Berkeley professor of labor, shoppers choosing, say, turkeys could one day scan bar codes with their cellphone cameras to find out where the birds were from, and even see pictures of the farms. The transformed bar code would call attention to environmentally friendly products and raise the consciousness of shoppers everywhere. [via the New York Times.
Software already exists that allows camera phones to read bar codes. And some companies have begun sharing encoded product-tracking information with curious consumers. This year, Heritage Foods started providing a tracking number with every piece of meat it sells. When keyed into the company's Web site, the number provides the animal's medical and feed history. The site also features a turkey Web cam, so you can examine the animals' living conditions for yourself.
The disclosure of so much production-process detail has risks: what if a turkey keels over on camera? Many companies are reluctant to throw open their doors while their competitors remain invisible. Still, a sizable number of consumers actually want to know how their sausage (or turkey) is made. These folks are less worried about losing their appetites than they are about buying something seriously unhealthful.
Related articles:
-- KTF to Trace Imported Beef with RFID - KTF, the second largest mobile carrier of Korea announced that it would launch a service to trace the origin of imported beef using RFID as of next year.
-- Fish bar code system under development - - A new cell phone information system is being developed to enable consumers to receive detailed information about fish at retail stores, including where and when the fish was caught and by whom.
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