h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I work at a place where the badge has a cool little proximity sensor in it. Its actually more anoying than useful
(swipe in, swipe out....etc. everywhere)
although to forget it, means arguing with security for ages (eeek).

Well written article

My work place has a card that allows the front door to be opened. Unfortunately, if you haven't quite matched the card against the tiny range of positions where it actually works, this usually results in a full on impact with the unyeilding door. Just another exmaple of the subtle traps technology enjoys playing on us all

The university where I work has recently had card locks
installed on all exterior doors. Shame that they don't work
in the rain.
Lovely article BTW.

Our proximity badges are set to increase the monitor radius with your personal importance.

If you are unimportant, you have to stand really near to get the doors to open.
If you are middle management, advancing to the door, it will open long enough for one person to slip through in your wake.
If you are a realy big cheese, about 8 people can hustle through - making it clear how important you are to have 8 sychophants!

Good eh?

Great article. I would vote for it (come on you editors, your lunch break has been 3 months too long already .)

It's already official. That's why it appeared on the front page.

We're not always at lunch, you know.

At my university we have ID bages(cards) that have a number, a bar code, and a megnetic strip. however all of theses things contain the same information your student number... also there is a photo of the holder.... the card has to be used everywhare... yet at all the places that use the card for id no one ever checks the picture to see if it matches up with the face....

my mother works for a hospital. She has a Id badge that works as a proximity badge and also as a location device. When any one needs her and she is at the hospital it tells them exactly whare she is....

I have a friend who works in a high security building, in which every door has to be opened using a swipe card. This allows the management to restrict access( and presumably work out how many times you go to the coffee bar). It does however, lead to one of the lesser known, but equally terrifying phobias. That fear of being trapped between two doors in a corridor when the card breaks down and the caretakers gone home for the weekend.