Microsoft is preparing to launch a new barcode system for DVDs and Xbox 360 games later this year. The system won’t replace the standard UPC barcodes but will appear alongside them on the boxes. Called the High Capacity Color Barcode, they’ll be in color, which can store extra information (like an e-mail address or a website URL), and the consumers will primarily use them since they’ll be able to scan the barcode with a digital camera or a cell phone camera. Also these codes will, hopefully, be used to combat piracy since they’ll contain special nanoparticles that can only be detected by special handheld readers.
Gavin Jancke, Research Engineering Director, said, "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."
[via GamesIndustry]
