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Day by day, instances of doubts and confusions related to one’s identification are increasing. Daily we come across certain incidents wherein threat to one’s life and belongings is increasing thereby resulting in the growing demand of an ID System that is full proof. Due to increasing instances of unexpected terrorist attacks and other such incidents, a sort of insecurity in the minds of people is being created. In some cases, certain situations like people looking at each other with doubt are rising where nobody is ready to believe even the known people. For every one, such kinds of situations are demanding an identity proof. To meet this necessity, development of various ID systems have been undertaken and there are advantages and disadvantages attached with each id system.

Earlier, an ID system was issued just with name and address of the person and a photograph. There were lots of mistakes and these mistakes led to many troubles since manual ways were used in the issuance of these cards. More over, in these ID systems, manipulations were also quite common and easy to do. When authorities investigated related matters, these drawbacks came into limelight and thus they started to find suitable means in order to find a proper solution to the problem by putting in lot of efforts for the same.

With introduction of electronic id system, these problems have been solved to some extent. In these ID systems, ID cards with or without a photograph are consisted. Similarly in ID cards, there is a chip embedded which encompasses all details like the name and contact details and even other details like blood group of the person carrying this ID Card. One can come to know about all this information as soon as this card is swiped by the authorized card reader. Preventing lot of security threats, this id system served the purpose of identification. Though it reduced the chances of manipulations, it was not completely fool proof. The instances are increasing wherein card exchanges with bad intentions and misuse of other’s cards is being seen quite frequently.

In the recent years, right from the swiping cards, Id system has undergone significant changes; these cards have undergone lot of changes and now are more sophisticated radio frequency cards. Even from a distance of 4 to 5 inches, such radio frequency cards which can be read by the readers. These ID cards have been changed to multi purpose cards slowly and gradually. The researches are making lot of efforts still on a continuous basis, to make a fool proof identity. This research in id system where a specific pin number has to use as a result along with the card has been introduced. With pin number system the menace of misusing the cards has been curbed to some extent by this card. Designated to this card, a card can not be used without the specific pin number even if it has been stolen or lost. The use of this specific pin number has made things a lot easier. But to create troubles, it could not be solve the problem of exchanging the cards intentionally.

Over the years, living style and standard is undergoing a lot of change. For frequent get-togethers and family visits, the fast life in cities gives no time. With their works and other activities, every one became confined to a lonely world of their own. And for many psychic problems including depressions, this man made solitude became the main cause and even it has been stated as the most vital reason behind the increased rates of suicides.

In organizing social get-togethers, the efforts to overcome this situation ended and slowly it attained a more organized set up, for example, clubs. With the promise of several facilities, a lot of clubs are mushrooming nowadays and advantages and club member ship cards have become hot cakes.

Different types member ship cards are used these days’. For identifying a member, some will be ordinary identity cards while some others are more sophisticated e-cards including all the details furnished by the members. The details can be known in the concerned computer in a single swipe.

Nowadays’, clubs are introducing more sophisticated member ship cards that are being used more and more now. Also referred to as smart cards, these membership cards carry the details of credits and debits of a member in his club accounts.

When ever an individual makes any payments, it will be credited in his member ship card and when ever a bill has been raised by the club towards charges of any service rendered to the member, it will get automatically debited. So maintaining the accounts of every member, it will be easy for the officials and at the same time, it will also be easy for the member to make payments.

With the access control systems, in some clubs these cards have been incorporated too. Access to some particular area may be denied if a member does not have enough balance in his club membership card. These types of access control systems are used mainly in dance rooms, ball rooms etc where there is a special entry fee even for the members.

Club member ship cards too became status symbols as the club member ship in these modern times. With added facilities like discounts in some outlets etc clubs are coming up with more and more attractive designer cards. As recreation centers, clubs have been started. But now use of membership cards has become a status symbol and happening too. So to attract more members, club owners and authorities are offering new facilities. Club member ship card is one way of doing precisely that. Members who are searching for more benefits for a lesser amount, more value added cards will definitely attract them.

Clubs help in developing social relations and these cards serves the purpose to some extent too.

The present day world is facing lot of challenges regarding security and safety. The world is full of doubts and fears and people are constantly feeling dangers all around them. In the minds of people, a sort of insecurity is created due to unexpected terrorist attacks and other such incidents. People looking at each other are always doubtful regarding each other and the situation has come to an impasse when nobody is ready to believe even the known people in some cases. For every one, such a situation is demanding an identity proof. To meet this necessity, a number of identification systems have been developed and each system has its own advantages and draw backs.

Initially, using a proper name and address of the person along with a photograph, the identification system was just issuing a card. Manual means were used to issue these cards and due to human errors, there were always a lot of mistakes in these cards. Also since these cards were prepared manually, the chances for manipulations were high. These drawbacks came to the notice of the authorities and to find a proper solution to these problems, a lot of efforts were taken up.

These problems have been solved to some extent with introduction of electronic identification system. With or without a photograph, this system consists of ID cards. Containing all the details of the person carrying that card, this card will have a chip. This chip will incorporate necessary details like the name of the person, his contact details and also certain necessary information like blood group etc. All these information will be exhibited when you swipe the card in an authorized card reader. To some extent, this identification system served the purpose of real identity proof. The system was not completely fool proof though it reduced the chances of manipulations.

In the recent years, identification system has undergone significant changes. These cards have undergone a lot of transformation as from the swiping cards; it has changed into more sophisticated radio frequency cards. Such cards are also read by the readers even from a distance of 4 to 5 inches. Now the cards have been changed into multi purpose cards. The efforts to make these cards fool proof are still on. Identification system where a specific pin number has to be used while making use of them has been introduced as a result of these researches. The menace of misusing the cards has been solved to a great extent by using this card with pin number system.

It can not be used without the specific pin number which is designated to this card even if a card has been stolen or lost. To identify a person, the latest identification system is the system where biological figures are used for the identification of a person.

If you go with the emerging trends, you will notice that people do not carry so much money all that often these days. That’s because the plastic cards are taking the place of money increasingly. Be it the cash or the identifying documents, everything thing is being represented by the plastic cards today. That’s how this era is.

We have seen the new marketing concepts, which include adding flair of the personal touch to retailing. When you introduce the concept of membership cards, you don’t quite just give them the cards with the motive of helping them avail discount. You do it so that they build a bond with you. In a way, when you give them the reward points and privileges and special preview, they feel good about shopping with you. If the customer is happy about your services, your sales will boom as you see, since the customer is happy, the customer shall talk to his friends about your business, refer them to you. Therefore, the membership cards are quite a lucrative and smart marketing strategy. Even when the clubs have loyalty cards, they pretty much serve the same purpose of keeping your customers coming back to your club.

We also have noticed the government identifying documents which used to be all paper work earlier are not so anymore. Everything is taking the form of plastic cards. Driving license in the earlier days used to be some pieces of paper, with all the official, legal work. Now, well, now, the driving license is but a plastic card which has all your details punched into a small chip which is embedded into the plastic card. The same goes with the PAN cards, voter’s ID card etc. all these documents are all plastic cards today.

The plastic cards are also evolving and do not just remain a rectangular plastic card. They have so much of information punched into the tiny piece of plastic. The chips are protected by the magnetic strip around of it. These plastic cards are hence used as form of identification. Many of the identification systems in many organizations have these plastic cards as their sole identifying property. The employees have their ID cards, which have the chip which is responsible for identifying them. That ways, when the card is swiped onto the hardware used for the same purpose, the hardware reads the information which has been locked into the chip, and recognizes the person, authenticates his identity and allows further operation, whether it be allowing him inside the premises, or authenticating a transaction or things like these.

The plastic cards are now considered safe, and hence help improve organizational and personal identity security. However, one must be careful about not losing these cards.

While lanyards are used in many places to display ID badges etc. around the neck of the person so that visibility increased, different kinds of lanyards are being developed for different applications; printed lanyards being one of them. A wide variety of materials such as plastic, synthetic and other fabrics are used as lanyards and there can be printed lanyards to display logo and colors of the company. Thus printed lanyards are used as a marketing tool which makes the presence of the company felt within the environment.

Marketing and advertisements are the two most important exercises of any modern company whether it is a well-established one or a fresh start-up. Modern companies do not forego any opportunity where they can show their presence or make their company name visible. Making people aware of their presence is an important marketing requirement and companies vie against each other to do just that. Printed Lanyards can also exhibit the name of the company that manufactures the gadget that is being carried by the lanyards and these days many companies give these printed lanyards free with the gadget itself so that the user does not need to make this simple addition himself to carry the gadget in question safely round his neck.

Printed Lanyards can be manufactured by various processes. Since lanyards are basically ribbon-like in nature, many different materials can be used to make these. Lanyards can also be colored where the base material that is used is colored material. If the company wishes to display the colors and logo of the company on the lanyards, they could also be printed using any of the new printing technologies such as heat-transfer, rotogravure, screen printing, offset-printing etc. Some woven lanyards can also have the ribbon woven into patterns or even have logos etc. incorporated into the weaving patterns to make it look like printed lanyards. The method of printing selected to make printed lanyards depends very much on the basic material used for it as well as the number of lanyards that are going to be made for that particular purpose at a time. This order size also depends upon whether the printed lanyards are going to be used just for one occasion like a conference or a trade fair or given complementary with the gadget as part of the packaging when it is commercially sold. For a one-occasion order the printed lanyards can be screen-printed and for longer orders they could be jacquard woven or offset printed.

Thus printed lanyards are here to stay more for the lasting brand awareness that they can create and also for the purpose for which they exist; namely, to carry the object like the ID card at the end of the lanyard.

Plastic cards could be credit cards or debit cards and these are the new plastic money popular because of the convenience of use. All First World countries use smart plastic cards in place of currency notes for almost any transaction that is needed. Plastic cards have other uses as well; they can be used as membership cards of elite clubs or gyms or spas or a even a political party, priority cards or discount cards of large retail chains, Voter ID cards, PAN cards to show your income tax number or the government issued UID or unique Identification number of some countries.
Plastic cards have always been used for identification after the use of paper board used as ID cards reduced. As ID cards they were common plastic tags used by employers or members of a group or the government of the country. These simpler versions of IDs card were printed by the employer with the photograph and identification information of the employee. A slight improvement over these rudimentary cards was the introduction of holograms or a three dimensional printed logo mark that was difficult to duplicate and hence difficult to defraud.
The advanced version of plastic cards was the introduction of the electronic chip that was embedded in them to store information electronically. The introduction of the electronic chip that can store information electronically in the plastic cards was a big leap in the use of the cards and the security of the information stored as it became more difficult to alter it. A magnetic strip was also included in the plastic cards which further increased the security aspect. Thus the modest plastic cards were transformed to the modern plastic money that has virtually replaced currency notes and coins as a means of exchange.
Much in the same way, the modern membership cards are plastic cards with the electronic chip and the magnetic strip in them. The chip stores information that was earlier just printed on the card. The magnetic strip protects the specimen signature that the authentic member has inscribed on it. When the card is swiped on the reader, the stored information on the chip is read and authenticated.
Plastic cards used as ID are also printed on both surfaces with the design logo and matter of the organization. The color and design on the cards can also be a distinguishing factor for different privileges allocated to different status enjoyed by the members making these simple plastic cards status symbols that are flashed around to get attention from common people. Plastic cards for ID are also issued to personnel of the armed forces or secret service etc. but these need to have extra safety features to make them more secure and protected from fraud.

Mifare cards are smart cards that have an embedded memory chip. This chip can communicate with a terminal using radio signals. This was the type of metro transit card that was introduced to the world when it was used for the first time In Hongkong more than ten years ago. Since then these cards have only shown improvement and increased efficiency.
Mifare cards are contactless cards which mean that, they do not need to come in direct contact with the reader terminal. Even without contact, mifare cards can be read by the reader terminal if brought sufficiently close to the reader interface. Now mifare cards are used by many countries mostly for their mass rapid transport systems for which they have been developed.
Mifare cards appear to be normal paper board cards that can be printed like any business card with business name, logo and other information on both sides. The microchip which is the memory of the card is embedded inside two layers of paper board that makes the card.
The name Mifare is now the accepted name of the card that is derived from Mikron Fare Collection System. Although developed as a replacement for the regular transport ticket the function of which is complete with the journey and which cannot be reused, Mifare cards were developed so that the same card can be used many times and is capable of storing the required information infinitely thereby reducing wastage of resources such as paper, printing and administrative costs involved in the usage of regular ticket stubs.
How do Mifare Cards function?
Mifare cards as has been already mentioned have a microchip memory inserted between two layers of paper board that constitute the card. When the passenger buys the card, the initial value of the card for which the card is purchased is present on the memory.
At the commencement of the journey, the passenger enters the precincts of the transport system by having the card read. At the end of the journey, the card reader again reads the card; the reader calculates the fare required for the journey and subtracts it from the initial amount. Now the card will have the remaining amount on the memory that can be used for the next journey.
The card reader has been programmed to read the initial amount and the place of commencement of journey, and again to read where the journey has ended and calculate the fare that is required for the distance. When the amount in the card has reduced that no journey is possible, the card can be re validated with whatever amount the passenger wants to and the same mifare card can be reused.
Thus for a small investment in the chip and the printing of the card which is covered by the passenger himself, mifare cards can be used over and over again, recovering the fare from the passengers without investing another dime.

Today cards are used all the time as credit cards or debit cards, priority cards or ID cards. Cards define the way we live because they are the new plastic money and are used for their convenience of usage. Advanced countries of the First World use smart cards in place of currency notes or tickets or entry passes for almost any transaction that they need to do. Cards can also be used as membership cards of elite clubs or gyms or spas or even a political party.
Historically, ID cards were used for identification. These were common plastic tags used by employers or members of a group or the government of the country. These simpler versions of IDs card were printed by the employer with the photograph and identification information of the employee. A slight improvement over these rudimentary cards was the introduction of holograms or a three dimensional printed logo mark that was difficult to duplicate and hence difficult to defraud. Membership Cards are also much the same and are used to identify the members of a club or any social organization.
The advanced version of ID cards was the introduction of the electronic chip that was embedded in them to store information electronically. The introduction of the electronic chip that can store information electronically in the plastic cards was a big leap in the use of the cards and the security of the information stored as it became more difficult to alter it. A magnetic strip was also included in the plastic cards which further increased the security aspect. Thus apart from the snob value of Membership Cards, the security aspect was also introduced. All developments that have occurred in other ID cards have been incorporated in the Membership Cards as well.
Hence, the modern membership cards are ID cards with the electronic chip and the magnetic strip in them. The chip stores information that was earlier just printed on the card. The magnetic strip protects the specimen signature that the authentic member has inscribed on it. When the card is swiped on the reader, the stored information on the chip is read and authenticated. To ascertain that the person carrying the card is the real member, the specimen signature can be compared to the person’s signature and thus verified. These new membership cards are also here to stay as more and more organizations are finding them useful and easy to use.
Membership cards are also printed on both surfaces with the design logo and matter of the organization. The color and design on the cards can also be a distinguishing factor for different privileges allocated to different status enjoyed by the members making membership cards status symbols that are flashed around to get attention from common people. Membership cards that are issued to personnel of the armed forces or secret service etc. can have extra safety features to make them more secure and protected from fraud.

Loyalty cards are the bi-product of the various Loyalty programs that are run by retail business houses that reward their loyal clientele and encourage them to be loyal by giving them discounts and other benefits when shopping for the next time in the store. Such marketing programs to boost sales are common and used all over the world successfully to lure customers into remaining loyal to their business.
Loyalty cards are given to repeat customers and a database of the customers is maintained by the establishment. Every time the client buys products or services from the company, the loyalty cards are presented at the time of paying the bill. The company keeps a record of the transaction and either rewards the loyal customer with an immediate discount or points that can be accumulated and redeemed whenever the client wants to do so.
There are many types of Loyalty cards doing the rounds. Some of them are just cards like the business card on which the info about the issuing company is printed and the loyalty number. All information about the customer and the transactions of the customer are maintained separately by the company. Every time the card is presented, the additional information that has since been created is noted and stored.
Other loyalty cards have a magnetic strip that can store information about the customer on the card. This is to make sure that there is no fraudulent use of the loyalty card. The latest loyalty cards have information of the client as well as the transaction stored on the memory chip that is embedded in the layers of paper board that makes the card. The points accrued by the client are also stored in memory and points can get added when purchases are made and subtracted when the points are redeemed by the customer.
Loyalty cards are used for purchases of products and services. For example a Frequent Flyer’s card is a Loyalty card issued by the airline that rewards its loyal passengers with extra benefits like use of airport lounge or up gradation into the higher class or even give a free trip when enough points have accumulated on the card.
Loyalty cards are used all over the world although named differently in different countries. In UK they are called as the Loyalty cards, in USA they are called discount cards, in Australia they are called as rewards card. Whatever be the name Loyalty cards all over the world are used for a common reason; to keep the customer loyal and thereby improve sales.