Andre Yoskowitz
19 Apr 2007 11:16
According to the BBC, Microsoft has designed a new color barcode which can store extra information and be scanned using camera phones and webcams.
The new barcodes, entitled "High Capacity Colour Barcodes" will appear next to the current UPC codes on upcoming DVDs and Xbox 360 titles.
Research engineering director Gavin Jancke described HCCB as "more of a 'partner' barcode", adding, "The UPC barcodes will always be there. Ours is more of a niche barcode where you want to put a lot of information in a small space."
The barcode itself will include 8 colored triangles which can hold as much as two times the information that a UPC code can. Consumers can use their webcams or camera phones to scan the new barcodes and access the data which can include the URL of a website offering downloadable content for the game or even an email address.
Jancke also added, "The capability of these new bar codes to store more data in a smaller space should provide a rich resource for the industry and consumers alike,"
"The new code offers several advantages over existing black-and-white bar codes most people are accustomed to seeing on product packages, enabling new consumer experiences, more visual appeal where aesthetics are important and the ability to incorporate advanced security features."
DVDs and Xbox 360 titles should have the new barcodes by the end of 2007.
Source:
Gamesindustry.biz