Visitor Badge Key Terms

Increase your security by learning some visitor badge key terms

By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN

Any time a business wants to let an outsider through the gates, a visitor's badge may identify the outsider, let insiders know why the visitor is there, give electronic access, or some combination of the three. In older days, visitor badges were rarely used, but today's technology makes it easy to implement visitor ID badge systems.

Knowing about some of the key terms for types and styles of visitor badges, as well as vistor badge functions and accessories, can help a business decide how to create their own visitor badge system to protect sensitive areas.

Visitor badge software

Visitor badge software is designed to create and track visitor badges for a business. These new high-tech solutions are popular for controlling visitor access to any sensitive areas and for other associated uses. Advanced features allow for advanced tracking that was unthinkable just a few years ago.
Try: See visitor badge software options from this Forbes software site.

Visitor badge safety program

A visitor badge safety program is a comprehensive security system for businesses or other organizations wherein up-to-date badges provide legitimacy to visiting individuals. These are often used in public places where law enforcement and other officials feel it is imperative to protect the public from possible harm.
Try: See examples of a visitor badge safety program for schools at Key to Safer Schools.

Kiosk

A kiosk is a stand-alone piece of technology that performs some service for users. A lot of visitor ID technology is kiosk-based to provide for portability.
Try: See more on kiosks from wiseGEEK. Get details on some examples of visitor kiosk setups at VIP2020.

Lanyards

Though they may have other meanings in a nautical environment, lanyards in business are the cords that people put around their necks to carry ID badges, including visitor passes.
Try: Find out more details on lanyards as they are used in business from LanyardsPlace.

Proximity chips

Proximity chips, or radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, are interesting little features that can be added to visitor or employee ID badges. Basically, cards with these chips can be waved near a sensor for identification and tracking.
Try: See more on proximity chips at Wired.com.

Badge scanners

Badge scanners are hardware that take information off of a coded badge and relay it your security system. These are widely used for both visitors' and employees' badges.
Try: Get more info on badge scanners at badgescanner.com.