Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Barcode Hand Stamp

Temporary barcode tattoos
  (+7, -3)
(+7, -3)
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against]

Temporary tattoos of barcodes affixed to your hand. This allows for unique identification in public places. For instance, you can swipe your credit card on entry to a dance club, allowing you to purchase drinks with a quick scan of your hand. Another use would be at amusement parks. No child is allowed to leave without an adult with a corresponding hand stamp.
Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004

Example http://www.barcodea...buy/custom_tat.html
[Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004]

For [Shz] http://www.adams1.c...dam/new.html#tattoo
[Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004]

[link]






       Suggestions for a better name and/or category are welcome.
Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004
  

       Hmm, well, is there a "mark of the beast" category around here? :)   

       [further babble expunged]
half, Nov 16 2004
  

       Possibly easy to counterfeit? If credit or the protection of a child were at stake, I'd want something a little more robust. Perhaps burned into your hand?
bristolz, Nov 16 2004
  

       Neck bar codes are seen in the movie Twelve Monkeys and the TV series Dark Angel.
FarmerJohn, Nov 16 2004
  

       Yes, barcode tattoos are widely halfbaked in science fiction. The beauty of this system is that it's temporary. With a real tattoo someone could, say, slip you a mickey, snap a picture of your neck, and get the same tattoo. They could then take over your identity. With a temporary tattoo, the most you could get is one night's worth of drinks - and that assumes you have a way of replicating these things.   

       [bris] Shouldn't be easy to counterfeit. Unlike my link I wouldn't include the text of what the barcode stands for. This means you'd need a very good image of someone's hand to copy it. Then you'd need a way of replicating the temporary tattoo. Add a little credit card style holigram, and the replication issue is solved as well.
Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004
  

       Nice idea! Since we are constantly re-generating our fingernails, I think they would be a nice place not to just stamp the barcode, as longshot suggests, but to "tatoo" it temporarily.
Pericles, Nov 16 2004
  

       bar:security -- bar code (param-pam)+
theircompetitor, Nov 16 2004
  

       Fingernails [Pericles] - good thought. Are barcodes on skin really legible? Skin stretches.
Shz, Nov 16 2004
  

       Funny, I originally thought of this idea after reading advice on why not to get a barcode tattoo - one reason was that the ink will spread, and they recommended temporary barcode tattoos. See link.
Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004
  

       Another advantage of barcode tatoos in fingernails for shopping purposes is that whenever you have abused your credit, all you have to do to keep yourself from compulsive shopping is buy some black nail enamel.
Pericles, Nov 16 2004
  

       So, these would be stickers?
bristolz, Nov 16 2004
  

       No, you need something that can't be removed without destroying them. Hence the temporary tattoos. Go to Uwajimaya, buy a box of Botan rice candy. Remove small colorful piece of paper and read the directions provided.   

       (I could have just directed you to the quarter machines at the front of any grocery store, but then you wouldn't end up with Botan rice candy)   

       (edit: I just found out that Botan rice candy sometimes comes with stickers. I guess you'll have to buy a bunch in the hope that one will have instructions.)
Worldgineer, Nov 16 2004
  

       I really like this idea for things like reëntry into a paid event, et cetera. But for sensitive things like credit card purchases, wouldn't good old thumbprint biometrics work? Or does that sound too Orwellian?
Acme, Nov 17 2004
  

       No, that would be fine. Just more expensive, and you wouldn't be able to tell at a glance if someone belongs there.
Worldgineer, Nov 19 2004
  

       Thats just one more way for the government to keep track of you. I dont want them knowing what i drink at clubs, or what amusement parks i visit. Ill just stick to cash.
V, Nov 19 2004
  

       Yum. Botan. One of my favorite things. I'd almost completely forgotten about those mellow things.
bristolz, Nov 19 2004
  

       V is right. Its too easy for the government to follow you around. Also, I feel like these can be copied as easily as the con is patient (hot sewing needle and ink anyone?)
Blumster, Nov 19 2004
  

       sp. tattoo
brodie, Nov 19 2004
  

       [V] True. But then there's no reason this has to be trackable. It would be easy enough to have people put down a cash deposit instead if they would like.   

       [Blum] But what is this con copying from? If you're implying that they'd take a brick to the back of your head and permanently tattoo themselves for a few free drinks, then you live in a frightening world and must not currently carry a wallet.   

       (thanks [brod]. I only spelled it wrong like 30 times here. I blame the extra t that has no logical purpose.)
Worldgineer, Nov 19 2004
  

       To avoid someone seeing your barcode and attempting to copy it, it could be done with ink that only shows up under UV light.
stupop, Nov 19 2004
  

       Chuck E Cheeses - a pizza resuraunt / arcade uses stamped numbers on your hand that can only be seen with a black light to match children with parents. They check everyone leaving with children to make sure that they have not traded with someone else, I guess. (I liked the idea.)   

       About the barcode: There really would be a large number of people completely freaked out by this due to Mark of the Beast concept.
Zimmy, Nov 19 2004
  
      
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