Microsoft has developed a new colour barcode system, which unlike traditional black and white striped barcodes, is made of small four and eight-colour geometric patterns. This new barcode can encode up to 3,500 alphabetical characters of data into a single square inch of barcode; double that of traditional barcodes.
Unlike the retail UPC barcodes, Microsoft's barcode will not replace the UPC system, but instead is aimed at storing a lot of information in a small place that can be read with something as simple as a webcam or a mobile phone with suitable software. For example, consumers could obtain the stored info such as to obtain a website address, contact e-mail address to even a link to a promotional page for bonus content.
This new colour barcode system will showing up on DVDs and Xbox360 discs by the end of the year. To help target counterfeiting, a US company DatatraceDNS will embed a nanoparticle into the structure of the code and packaging, where it is checked using a hand-held device involving a special light source and emission spectrum detector.
Thanks to GristyMcFisty for letting us know about this news. Further info can be read here on the BBC.
