IBM Tracks Pork Chops From Pig To Plate 216
dcblogs writes "IBM is deploying technology in China that allows meat suppliers to track a single pig all the way from farm animal to pork chop. Pigs are initially identified with a barcoded ear tag. This identification is then put on bins used to track the various pig parts as they pass through the slaughterhouse, processing plant, distribution center and finally to the clear plastic-wrapped package in a grocer's case. If a consumer buys three pork chops in a package, 'you know that these three pieces of pork chop came from pig number 123,' said Paul Chang, who leads global strategy for emerging technologies at IBM. The goal is to control disease outbreaks, but theoretically this technology could allow a grocer to put a picture on the store package of the pig you are eating."
Prior Art: IBM and Nazi Germany +3, Sickening (Score:2, Informative)
collaboration [ibmandtheholocaust.com].
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Yours In Osh,
K. Trou t
Re:IBM already did this (Score:5, Informative)
oh, not to worry! your concerns have long since been recognized.
United States Patent 5,878,155 [uspto.gov]
the problem of the prior art being those permanent markings being conspicuous, and that's it. meditate on that for a second.. and then check out the patent no. 4,597,495 which this one cites as reference. merry christmas!