New colour barcode

A colour barcode system holding more data than current codes will find its way onto DVDs later this year.

The four and eight-colour geometric patterns can hold up to two-pages of data, double the amount of traditional black and white, striped barcodes

Developed by Microsoft, it is one of a number of competing products hoping to find their way onto packaging.

Microsoft has said consumers could interact with the new barcodes, using webcams and mobile phones with cameras.

Gavin Jancke, the Microsoft Research engineering director who developed the so-called High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB), said the aim was not to replace the current barcode system, called UPC.

"It's more of a 'partner' barcode," he said. "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."

Up to 3,500 alphabetical characters of data can be embedded into each square inch of the barcode.

The code is made up of up to eight-different coloured triangles which are aligned left to right with each shape placed from point to base or vice versa.