UPC R.I.P.?
from the but-then-what-will-you-send-in-for-prizes? dept
Gary Brown writes "How Smart Labels Will Work explains how the ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code will be replaced by smart labels, also called radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags, a technology once limited to tracking cattle, will soon be tracking trillions of consumer products worldwide. Manufacturers will know the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's used and tossed in the recycle bin or trash can. MIT's Auto-ID Center, created a couple of years ago, is working on an Electronic Product Code (EPC) identifier that could replace the UPC." An interesting article, but I'm not sure how long it's going to take to get these tags cheap enough to really be useable without cutting into product margins - and valuable enough that grocery stores will be willing to redo their infrastructure to use them.
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