Come on you can't tell me, that Japan isn't cool
Gadget geeks with cutting-edge cellphones will soon be able to call up their medical records, anytime, anywhere or in a totally different vein, check out the provenance of their broccoli at the supermarket.
Produce grower and exporter Dole has introduced a new technology service that allows a cellphone user to check vegetable information while at the store.
Consumers can learn where the produce came from and how it arrived on the shelf, along with cooking tips.
The service only works on produce packaged with a ``QR'' barcode, a matrix-type super-code capable of storing lots of information. The shopper needs a cellphone equipped with a camera and scanner equipment that can read the codes.
For now, only Dole's broccoli has the QR code, but the company plans to expand the service to other vegetables.(IHT/Asahi: July 17,2004) (07/17)