AIM Global Announces Public Review of New Bar Code Specification

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AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, today announced that the Public Review Draft of the International Symbology Specification DotCode developed by AIM Global's Technical Symbology Committee (TSC) is available for a 30-day public review.

DotCode is a unique, variable size, variable shape, matrix symbology specifically designed for high-speed marking applications where alignment or connection of individual dots is problematic.  Because DotCode uses discrete printed elements with at least one nominal element space between them as a non-printed area, it offers a practical method to provide unique item identification at full production line speeds.

DotCode incorporates a number of unique features designed to make both marking and reading tolerant of distortion that may occur during the marking process.  It also incorporates strong Reed-Solomon error correction to enable correct reading despite symbol damage.

According to AIM Global President Dan Mullen, "With increasing attention being placed on being able to uniquely identify items -- from food items to pharmaceuticals to critical machine parts -- DotCode is significant because it offers a real solution for applications where traditional bar code printing cannot provide mass serialization without slowing down the production or packaging process."

The Public Review process ends September 30, 2008.  Interested reviewers can download the document for a fee (AIM Global members may download free of charge with login), from the AIM Global website.  Reviewers should send comments to editor@aimglobal.org.