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

I saw in a thread somewhere somebody asking about h2g2 email addys, and the reply was 'probably not going to happen', and a thought struck me. How about I.D cards with the official logo, researchers name(screen and real life)(which could be typed in) on the front, and what the card entitles the bearer to on the back, and even a barcode that could be scanned and proven legit, that can be printed on a home printer? We could take the printouts and have them lamenated. It wouldn't cost h2g2.ltd anything, save for a page onthe site with the cards, and rules(I hate that word, but we must have them).

My thinking is that researchers could form local h2g2 clubs, and make local deals with bussiness(that may have ties with h2g2, or could foster ties with, which would bring about new oppertunities for h2g2, i.e advertising, yadda yadda yadda) for discounts on goods and services, by bringing in new bussiness.

What do you think?

ID Cards have been mentioned before, but I don't think that anyones actually thought them out as well.

I'll let the Towers know.

Nice idea. The only stumbling block I can see is that we don't have any barcode generating software, but that doesn't mean we couldn't do something without a barcode to start with, just for fun.

I'll see what it would entail, but as always, don't hold your breath - resources are rather stretched round here right now.

Thanks for posting!

Mark

The bar codes could come on the 'mark2' versions.

I would think of even more gadgets like:
- a badge identifying you as 'H2G2 Researcher on Duty, allowed to park everywhere'
- bumper sticker
- self-adhesive thingy to be glued to rear car windows (like those 'Pioneer', 'Marlboro' etc.
Would that be possible?

As always, Bossel, the answer is a financial one. To make things like this you need to invest money in creating them before you can sell them or give them away. Right now that's not going to happen, but as soon as we're in a position where we can afford to create merchandising, you bet we'll have all sorts of h2g2 goodies available.



Mark

hmm, think I should call Trillian's Child in here. At the South German Meet she presented us all some canvas bags and conference folders which were imprinted with an h2g2 Goo screen. She printed the screen onto some plastic sheet which could be ironed to the canvas.

That was very kind of her! I wish we could be that charitable... but our investors tend to take a dim view of us giving money away.

Mark

err, I didn't mean to ask any complimentary service from you
Just wanted to hint at the possibility and spread the idea!

Now we're all sheltering under the Beeb's umbrella, surely we can have them make up some h2g2 logo mousemats, etc like the ones at http://www.bbcshop.com/ (BBC Shop). Nothing fancy, not personalisation, but pens, t-shirts, Post-Its, mousemats, etc.

Whoami?

After all, there are Terry Wogan ones.

What about a 6-monthly updated 'EG Archive CD-ROM' like some magazines produce?

We're looking at this one.

In fact I just sent someone an email asking clarification of BBC commercial policy. Are you looking over my shoulder Whoami?

*Checks for hidden camera*

No point looking for the hidden camera - it's invisible, you see. Anyway, hopefully the answer to 'If Wogan can have printed clothes, why can't we?' will be 'You can have clothing, pens, mugs, mousemats, etc.'. Well, here's hoping!

Whoami?

I want a h2g2 mousemat!!

I want a glass.

What about an smiley?

glass sounds good. h2g2 mouse, keyboard, etc?

TM Invisible Smiley

I would also like a mousemat. I already have a Wogan one !!!

Why on earth do you have a Wogan mouse mat?

I think I know where I might be able to get a h2g2 pint glass...