To improve efficiencies in data collection and exchange in China, bar codes will be encoded in Chinese. GM (Grid Matrix) Code, developed by the Shenzhen Syscan Technology Co., Ltd, has been accepted by AIM Global as the latest work item for development of an International Symbology Specification.
AIM Global is the industry trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility solutions.
"Given the international nature of business it is outstanding to see new bar code developments from our members in China," said Dan Mullen, AIM Global president.
According to GM Code's developer, Dr. Xuchuan Fan of Syscan Technology, the finder pattern of GM Code is distributed over the entire symbol, so damage of any part of the symbol will not affect the correct decoding if the damage is within the error correction capability. In short, there is no 'Key Area' (the damage of which makes the symbol unreadable) in GM Code.
Now that the work item has been accepted by AIM Global, the Technical Symbology Committee (TSC) will craft a final symbology specification that printer and scanner/imager manufacturers can use to develop hardware and software to support wide applications of the symbology. Many symbologies published as AIM Global specifications have moved into the international community and ISO standardization.