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The End of the Bar Code

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the coming-soon-to-everything-near-you dept.

valdean writes "The University of Wisconsin RFID Lab, principally funded by a dozen Wal-mart suppliers including 3M, Kraft Foods, and S.C. Johnson & Son, believes that RFID could spell the end of the ubiquitous bar code. The big draw? Speeding up supply-chain management. Wal-mart's warehouse conveyor belts presently move products at 600 feet per minute... but they want to be faster. And better informed."

7 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. I know... by trevordactyl · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Things like this are fun to experiment with, and in some applications they're very useful and make people's lives better. But what do we really have to gain by developing RFID in our personal lives? So we don't have to "deal with" the cashiers at a store? We're eliminating the need for human contact .

    "... but they want to be faster
    " Why do they want to be faster? So they can continue to work a 40-hour week and rush home to...to what? The internet?
    Sorry, but my life is too fast-paced as it is, the last thing I need is another thing to expedite my trip through life.

  2. too much! by fuelvolts · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "And better informed."

    I went to apply for a walmart credit card whan I was 18 - they already had my information and SSN - I was shocked.

    They know too much already!

  3. They won't be going away soon... by ap0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This technology isn't going to replace barcodes. Many companies (like UPS or FedEx) would have a difficult time adapting their systems because of the large amounts of accidental "scanning" of RFID tags. If companies can use it effectively, that's great, but for many companies, barcodes are a more ideal solution.

  4. barcodes are everywhere by savuporo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I dont know about you, but over here ( Estonia ) we can for example purchase movie theatre tickets online and print them anywhere. The very same barcode-carrying tickets lets you in through the gates in cinema. How's RFID going to replace so simple and cheap system ?

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  5. What about rebates? by lildogie · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Will we be taping the chip to the form instead of the bar code?

  6. Re:600 feet per minute... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Siemens Dematic was working on a conveyor belt so fast that the air resistance was lifting the parts, and I'm certain it was faster than this.

  7. Actually... by Otto · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With RFID, there is the possibly of doing entire cart checkouts. Roll the cart into the scanning area, it gets all the RFID info, gives a total and you pay for your items. No need to remove everything from the cart.

    Of course, this means that you likely want to bag the items as you shop instead of afterwards.

    --
    - Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set him on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.