Neowin.net - Microsoft gives bar codes a splash of color

Microsoft gives bar codes a splash of color

Posted by Emil Protalinski on 16 April 2007 - 20:24 · 16 comments & 4401 views

Microsoft finds monochromatic stripes dull, and has put its weight behind a colored bar code format. The color bar code is being targeted especially for use on commercial media such as movies, video games and other recordings. Microsoft said the High Capacity Color Bar Code could start showing up on DVDs by the end of this year, thanks to a deal it has signed with an organization that helps coordinate product labelling for audiovisual works. "We use color to store more information," said Gavin Jancke, director of engineering for Microsoft's research labs. Jancke is the creator of the new bar code format, which uses either four or eight hues to pack more data into less space. The new bar code also uses small triangles, as opposed to traditional squares. The new bar code is mean to allow DVDs and their packages to offer added security or, potentially, links to a movie trailer or other bonus features.

The downside for color labels is the required high-quality printing, not to mention standard bar code scanners also won't read the codes. Jancke insists this bar code is different than the failed CueCat, which embedded bar code links in print publications. "The CueCat required specific hardware that needed to be attached to a PC," Jancke said, noting that the Microsoft-developed bar code could be read by devices consumers already have, such as a Web cam or cell phone camera.

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#1 Posted by +lylesback2 on 16 Apr 2007 - 20:37: looks a lot different, i figured they would of kept the standard bars, but it's just a bunch of triangles

#2 Posted by Nighthawk-F117 on 16 Apr 2007 - 20:46: Surely it would be quite capital intensive to implement in shops with very little benefit?

#3 Posted by Munkyman on 16 Apr 2007 - 21:31: That looks disgusting.

The old ones at least look classy. TBH I think the standard with a bit of colour spalshed over it would look a lot better than that.

#4 Posted by rayjin on 16 Apr 2007 - 22:57: That just looks hideous! The old fashioned bar rocks!

Why change a good thing?

#5 Posted by TRC on 16 Apr 2007 - 23:00: They're bar codes, they aren't supposed to be in your face and colorful. They weren't dull, more like inconspicuous. These new triangle things are horrible looking.

#6 Posted by Swordnyx on 16 Apr 2007 - 23:15: Eww. At least make the shape different..

#7 Posted by robert27 on 16 Apr 2007 - 23:39: I say who cares what it looks like, its a barcode thats not supposed to be look good. Frankly I think its cool.

#8 Posted by mattrobs on 17 Apr 2007 - 00:08: Embedding links? Just right the damn links in English.

#9 Posted by ragn4rokk 2.0 on 17 Apr 2007 - 00:10: Looks like some Incan tunic.

(3 replies) #10 Posted by QuarterSwede on 17 Apr 2007 - 01:46: I don't see why MS is trying to do this when there are already other complex barcode systems (matrix codes )in place used by Fedex, UPS, etc.

Even they don't matter because RFID will be replacing the barcode.

#11 Posted by necrosis on 17 Apr 2007 - 03:04: Japan uses a square 'matrix style' one en-mass. Even on huge bilboards. You can capture and read them with a javascript app you load on your camera enabled cell phone.

100 times more useful than this "colorful" crap from MS.

#12 Posted by teejaydm on 17 Apr 2007 - 03:29: Didnt microsoft announced/released some sort of qr code before

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Live_Barcode

#13 Posted by Magallanes on 17 Apr 2007 - 13:49: b&w barcodes?... ugly ugly.. it's out. welcome to colorbars.

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