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Comic-Con International => WonderCon => Topic started by: lowgun on March 28, 2016, 04:14:34 PM

Title: RFID Wondercon
Post by: lowgun on March 28, 2016, 04:14:34 PM
Hmm so what do you guys think of the RFID? I went on Friday but didnt do much after that so dont know if its really busy at times and have to line up to "tap in" and "tap out". When the floor closes did everyone still need to tap out or does it reset on the next day? Any one forget to tap out and couldnt tap in?

TIA
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 28, 2016, 04:19:06 PM
I was scared that if I didn't tap out, it wouldn't work and I'd waste time waiting at the help desk, so I never risked it.

I never saw a line to tap in or tap out. It seemed to be an orderly process. People got used to it pretty quickly.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: madfly on March 28, 2016, 04:26:57 PM
I posted this question under a different subject area as well:
We just went to WonderCon this weekend.  When the 4 of us(2 adults/2 juniors) checked in at the badge pick up tables, I handed the the guy helping us all 4 barcode print outs. He them preceded to hand us our badges. When he handed us the first one, I asked him whose it was. He said it didn't matter! He handed us all 4 badges...they all looked exactly the same...None of them had names or badge type( adult/junior) printed on them. Does this make any sense??
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: lowgun on March 28, 2016, 04:42:20 PM
I think the RFID isnt linked to any member id so names didn't matter. For the professional lines for badge pickup they started to just give badges with no names on it to move the line faster.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: TardisMom on March 28, 2016, 04:45:31 PM
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I posted this question under a different subject area as well:
We just went to WonderCon this weekend.  When the 4 of us(2 adults/2 juniors) checked in at the badge pick up tables, I handed the the guy helping us all 4 barcode print outs. He them preceded to hand us our badges. When he handed us the first one, I asked him whose it was. He said it didn't matter! He handed us all 4 badges...they all looked exactly the same...None of them had names or badge type( adult/junior) printed on them. Does this make any sense??

At NYCC it didn't matter until you went online to register your badge.  And even then I don't think it mattered :)
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Zero on March 28, 2016, 04:49:50 PM
As a volunteer, I had my name printed on the card stock paper that was placed behind the plastic RFID badge.  Daily volunteer RFID badges were supposed to only be activated for the day that the volunteer actually did a shift, but I couldn't attend the convention for a second day (so I couldn't test out this theory just to see if the system worked properly when you tapped in or out).  Ha ha.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: mraceebb on March 28, 2016, 05:08:47 PM
For what it's worth, there was one room I was in that I left to go use the restroom.  I didn't realize that the exit I used was after a check-in/check-out station so when I came back I had to check back in.  I was worried that doing so would give me an error since I hadn't checked out, but... it checked in fine. 

There was another person who had just left to also use the bathroom and had realized his exit was outside of the station.  That person asked the security person by the scanner what to do and that person said it didn't matter.

I'm guessing that CCI was really just collecting data this weekend to see how quickly people could be processed and that they weren't really enforcing or maybe even triggering if you didn't check out.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Laminas92675 on March 28, 2016, 05:10:06 PM
I was worried Friday morning because by the time my group got our autograph tickets and got in line to get into the exhibit hall it was a really long line and our signing was in the morning. It did end up moving pretty fast but it did freak us out. I think it was the tapping in that slowed it down a bit.
When we went to the legends of tomorrow panel at the Microsoft theatre the volunteer scanned my badge and said my name so they do have your name on the screen that scans your badge. I was surprised when she said name. 
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: loubert on March 28, 2016, 09:53:46 PM
While I'm still nervous about how RFID checkpoints will create logjams in San Diego, I was pleasantly surprised that it pretty much seemed a non-issue at WonderCon (except at the Microsoft Theater, where there was only one person scanning badges). However, every time I was cutting it close to get to a panel, I was panicked that I'd tap my badge, it wouldn't work, and I'd have to go get it sorted out and end up missing the panel.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: krod on March 29, 2016, 03:47:30 PM
I didn't have a good experience with RFID the first day. I went to pick up my badge thursday and waited an hour to pick up my badge, witch is fine that's why I went thursday, so I don't have to worry about it on friday. When a volunteer scanned my barcode to pick up my badge the system wasn't reading it so I went to the help desk to pick up my badge, they gave me my badge but they had forgotten to activate my badge or something along the same lines, I didn't know at the time, so I went to the exhibit hall in the morning and my badge didn't work, I was one of the first 20 people in line and wasn't the only person it was happening to so they let me through eventually and said I had to go to the help desk if I wanted to reenter the exhibit hall or go to panels, so I went help desk to get this all figured out, they fixed it but it took an hour out of my friday, I missed part of the dc all access panel not big deal to me there working it out but if this happened at sdcc I'd be raging, who knows what I'd miss out on. I know this happened to several people, and I don't know when the badges are mailed out if there going to be pre activated or on site, but definitely for foreign con goers who will pick up on site they should have a testing station to make sure the badges are working when there picked up. I wish I went to the talk back and suggested it.     
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 29, 2016, 04:50:37 PM
Krod, that's an excellent idea! I love the concept of having a 'testing station' right at badge pickup, so people can make sure things are okay.

ALthough at SDCC< since many of the badges are mailed, that might be moot...  :-[
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Old Man Grey on March 30, 2016, 09:42:57 AM
The only problem I experienced was having to bend over to scan the badge. I can see "Comic-Con Hunchback"  being a new medical condition.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 30, 2016, 09:48:15 AM
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The only problem I experienced was having to bend over to scan the badge. I can see "Comic-Con Hunchback"  being a new medical condition.

At Talkback, someone suggested that instead of lanyards, this year CCI give out those 'extension clips' that attach to a belt or pocket. That way people could pull out the badges and tap them easily. That suggestion was met by a lot of applause, and John Rogers took note.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: AzT on March 30, 2016, 09:54:21 AM
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At Talkback, someone suggested that instead of lanyards, this year CCI give out those 'extension clips' that attach to a belt or pocket. That way people could pull out the badges and tap them easily. That suggestion was met by a lot of applause, and John Rogers took note.

Outstanding idea - would be helpful for cosplayers too :)
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: vegasndn on March 30, 2016, 10:47:30 AM
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At Talkback, someone suggested that instead of lanyards, this year CCI give out those 'extension clips' that attach to a belt or pocket. That way people could pull out the badges and tap them easily. That suggestion was met by a lot of applause, and John Rogers took note.
Good suggestion but it would make it easier for someone to attempt to take from you or you losing it. If it's around your neck I feel that it's a deterrent for thieves and you know where your badge is at. I loved the look of the badge not a plain Saturday printed but to have artwork on it was nice.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: perc2100 on March 30, 2016, 11:45:26 AM
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At Talkback, someone suggested that instead of lanyards, this year CCI give out those 'extension clips' that attach to a belt or pocket. That way people could pull out the badges and tap them easily. That suggestion was met by a lot of applause, and John Rogers took note.
Theoretically one could do this on their own, right?  There's nothing that forces an attendee to use the official lanyard for the badge.  Heck, there have been years when on Sunday they run out of lanyards so you either have to pin them to you the old fashion method or use your own device if you brought one with you.  I guess I would suggest if you like the extension clip maybe you should do this on your own if you feel the regular lanyard doesn't work for you
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 30, 2016, 12:20:33 PM
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Theoretically one could do this on their own, right?  There's nothing that forces an attendee to use the official lanyard for the badge.  Heck, there have been years when on Sunday they run out of lanyards so you either have to pin them to you the old fashion method or use your own device if you brought one with you.  I guess I would suggest if you like the extension clip maybe you should do this on your own if you feel the regular lanyard doesn't work for you

Agreed! After all, I never use the provided lanyard, but use he FoCC one instead. Maybe we'll have to transition to a FoCC extension clip.... ;)
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Zero on March 30, 2016, 12:47:25 PM
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Agreed! After all, I never use the provided lanyard, but use he FoCC one instead. Maybe we'll have to transition to a FoCC extension clip.... ;)

I'm totally up for that.  [member=1]alyssa[/member], a new merchandise idea (to be discussed after the hotel lottery), perhaps?  ^__~
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: alyssa on March 30, 2016, 01:08:31 PM
i'll see what i can do.....  the reason for doing teh green slime round of lanyards has arrived <wink>
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: sylent_asassin on March 30, 2016, 01:47:03 PM
The RFID badges worked well for the most part. There was one incident where my and my wife's badge scanned red instead of green and we had to re-scan, but that was about it. Everything else seemed to run pretty smooth. I'm not sure how this will work at SDCC, though. During lunch, it'll probably create a massive bottleneck... and I honestly can't see this going well during opening when people are rushing the floor for exclusives.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: omraged9 on March 30, 2016, 11:46:13 PM
Do you guys think they will have portable scanners? For instance if you ever go to concert venues, they have these small portable scanners that scan the tickets when you walk in. Because I agree, for those rushing to buy exclusives or even for the lines entering Hall H and other rooms, there'd be a huge bottleneck. If it's possible they should pre-scan the badges as ppl are waiting in line to help alleviate any bottlenecks.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Transmute Jun on March 31, 2016, 07:30:11 AM
At WonderCon they were all 'fixed' scanners, except at the Microsoft Theater, where they had the iPad things. So maybe at SDCC they would have the 'fixed' things at the entrances to the convention center, and the iPad things at Hall H?
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Sassindog on April 04, 2016, 07:01:28 PM
Two of the four adults of my party had badges that didn't work on the first day. They were pretty understanding at most of the scanners. I also experienced a complete malfunctions of entire sets of scanners where they re routed us to other exits and entrances. A little inconvenient, but not a huge issue. There was a little delay waiting for all the kids who wanted to "scan in and out" even though their badge was not RFID (my own kids included!).

I only see this being a huge problem at Comic Con with getting into preview night and on the floor first thing in the morning. Otherwise Im thinking it won't be so bad!
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Poggledoo on April 05, 2016, 01:27:24 AM
I really hope that Wondercon managed to be a good place to work out all the links for the tens of thousands of people more that will be three for SDCC.  Hopefully they'll have enough scanners both stationary and mobile.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Pyramid on April 05, 2016, 06:49:06 AM
Based on all the comments I am going to buy an extension clip for SDCC.  Found one on Etsy that is of Captain America's shield:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/216973991/captain-america-retractable-id-badge
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Zero on April 05, 2016, 08:24:14 AM
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Based on all the comments I am going to buy an extension clip for SDCC.  Found one on Etsy that is of Captain America's shield:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/216973991/captain-america-retractable-id-badge

We may look into getting some Friends of Comic Con ones... for the official store.  Right, [member=1]alyssa[/member]?

^__~
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: alyssa on April 05, 2016, 08:26:06 AM
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We may looking into getting some Friends of Comic Con ones... for the official store.  Right, [member=1]alyssa[/member]?

^__~

yes, but there's a small hurdle i need to leap before i can say definitively

CCI did say at the talk back that they would be raising the height of the tap in things
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: dunkaroos on April 05, 2016, 11:06:06 AM
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At Talkback, someone suggested that instead of lanyards, this year CCI give out those 'extension clips' that attach to a belt or pocket. That way people could pull out the badges and tap them easily. That suggestion was met by a lot of applause, and John Rogers took note.

Yes that was me, specifically I was referring to the retractable badge holders on lanyards like NYCC has done in the past. I'm cannibalizing that old one to make myself a new lanyard for SDCC. Here's a photo of that lanyard that I stole from the internet because mine is in pieces now:

(https://www.friendsofcc.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPfhm8Dy.jpg&hash=4a5dc0ad949cf63f0d5fdb412dad99d1a8eb7a79)

Shouldn't be any easier to steal or lose the badge than it has in the past.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: Zero on April 05, 2016, 11:32:40 AM
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Yes that was me, specifically I was referring to the retractable badge holders on lanyards like NYCC has done in the past. I'm cannibalizing that old one to make myself a new lanyard for SDCC. Here's a photo of that lanyard that I stole from the internet because mine is in pieces now:

http://i.imgur.com/Pfhm8Dy.jpg

Shouldn't be any easier to steal or lose the badge than it has in the past.

Ohhhh, yes.  I like this idea.

It also makes me wonder if Comic-Con have something similar now that they've shifted to RFID badges...
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: beadrbop on April 06, 2016, 01:52:57 AM
The tapping in/out for us worked every day. The only issue I ran into was when I tried to tap too soon after the person in front of me. (showed red so I had to re-tap). They had issues at the Microsoft theaters one day since there was only one portable scanner but seems to have been sorted out by the second day. My biggest issue was the way the scanners were set up on a rubber mat that was slightly elevated and I would trip on it every freaking time (I have mobility issues with one leg in particular so I have trouble with raised ledges like that). 
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: SleepyPanda777 on April 07, 2016, 05:23:29 PM
It wasn't so bad for e when they did the rfid on friday. :D
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: furtherforever on April 08, 2016, 01:29:15 AM
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I really hope that Wondercon managed to be a good place to work out all the links for the tens of thousands of people more that will be three for SDCC.  Hopefully they'll have enough scanners both stationary and mobile.

I think RFID at WonderCon was a pretty good first effort; it certainly worked out better than I had expected. While I'm sure it's not going to work out perfectly at SDCC, I can't imagine there being too many issues. If anything, I'm sure they'll tweak things as the weekend goes along.
Title: Re: RFID Wondercon
Post by: threeifbyspace on April 08, 2016, 08:53:53 AM
Its interesting seeing how this worked at Wondercon, SDCC is another animal of course.