Barcode plan uniquely identifies individual item

"A group of academics and business executives is planning to introduce next month a next-generation bar code system..." (C|Net)

[Cans] of Diet Coke have the same bar code more or less. Under EPC, every can of Coke would have a one-of-a-kind identifier.

Obviously, such technology could have a major repercussions (both good and bad)...