| You're probably familiar with the more common uses | | | | information on the back of the card or pass. I've seen |
| of identification cards -- employee ID badges that you | | | | season schedules, private lesson times, and even |
| see in office complexes, schools, hospitals, and police | | | | promotions for upcoming events. The back of the card |
| or military offices. Or the less formal name badges | | | | is also a great place for placing return visit incentives |
| that are common at special events, trade shows, or | | | | or local advertising. |
| conferences. | | | | Child Safety -- To quickly identify trusted caretakers at |
| ID cards and badges like these are created using | | | | pre-schools and day care centers, you can create |
| common ID supplies, such as blank ID cards, often | | | | custom ID cards or badges that serve as parent or |
| made out of new or recycled PVC or other | | | | guardian credentials. You can also print names of the |
| eco-friendly materials; an ID printer; ID badge software; | | | | other people the parent or guardian trusts for |
| and a variety of related accessories such as | | | | after-school pick up duty. |
| laminators, badge holders, lanyards or neck straps, | | | | Student Monitoring -- Tracking student attendance is |
| reels, and more. | | | | made much easier with newer smart card technology. |
| But I digress into boring territory. What I want to share | | | | When students arrive at school, they sign in by |
| with you here are the less familiar -- and yes, even fun | | | | scanning their student ID card with an ID reader -- |
| -- ways you can use ID card supplies and technology | | | | much like many employees do at their offices. Such |
| for organizational or personal items. | | | | smart card use can help to minimize truancy and |
| When I started working with ID card systems, I naively | | | | obtain accurate student counts during an emergency |
| thought they were simply used in the practical and | | | | situation. |
| expected ways mentioned above. Boy, was I wrong! | | | | Scheduling -- Schedules are a fact of life and a |
| Here are eight of the most innovative and creative | | | | necessity for many of us. Whether for school, work |
| uses I've come across so far: | | | | shifts, sports, or fun, schedules keep our busy lives in |
| Durable Labels -- Using blank plastic (PVC) cards and | | | | order. Unfortunately, schedules are also prone to |
| a Sharpie pen, you can quickly create sturdy and | | | | changing - a lot. Using rewritable ID cards, it's easy to |
| indelible labels for organized supply cabinets, storage | | | | keep everyone abreast of the latest changes. |
| closets, or product display shelves. These are also | | | | Rewritable cards allow you to print class schedules, |
| great for library sections or shelves or craft room | | | | sports/game schedules, convention or conference |
| supplies at school. You can even punch a hole in the | | | | schedules on the back of event tickets, membership |
| card and attach a cord or zip tie to create a hanging | | | | cards, conference credentials and student IDs. |
| label. Double-sided Velcro is another option for affixing | | | | Season Tickets Alternative -- Instead of printing huge |
| easily. | | | | ticket sheets, you can switch to one bar-coded card |
| Guest Segmentation/Identification -- In popular vacation | | | | per season ticket holder. A bar-coded card makes |
| or recreation destinations -- think cruises, hotels, clubs, | | | | admission hassle free and saves paper in the process. |
| spas, theme parks, and concerts -- you can customize | | | | Personalized Luggage Tags -- These can be great |
| ID cards, lanyards, or wristbands to easily spot guests | | | | promotional items or gifts for organizations such as |
| who've pre-paid for premium activities and events, or | | | | airlines, hotels, sports teams, corporations, non-profits, |
| whose package includes such perks. Such identifiers | | | | schools, and more. I've even known brides-to-be to |
| are easy to spot and help to lessen the | | | | order personalized luggage tags for the wedding party |
| time-consuming, and somewhat irritating, task of asking | | | | and guests. |
| guests to produce entry or access "credentials." Worn | | | | This list is just a sampling of what you can do with ID |
| items, such as wristbands, also help to speed re-entry | | | | card supplies and technology. There are endless |
| for contained areas with a high volume of incoming | | | | possibilities for getting creative with ID card systems, |
| and outgoing traffic. | | | | and the badges, holders, lanyards, and other |
| Skiing Savvy -- Ski resorts are using card technology | | | | accessories that are available today. Please add a |
| to print different, easily-identified cards for season and | | | | comment here if you have a creative use you would |
| day-pass holders. Using a dual-sided ID card or badge | | | | like to share. |
| printer, you can also print important or useful | | | | |