Identity Tags
Identity tags are one type of tagged objects that Microsoft Surface recognizes. These tags store 128 bits of data (two 64-bit values), so there is an effectively unlimited range of unique tag values. (In contrast, byte tags store 8 bits [1 byte] of data.)
The value of an identity tag is represented in code by an IdentityTag structure. The IdentityTag structure consists of two properties, Series and Value, which are 64-bit numbers.
An identity tag can represent a much greater range of values that an byte tag. This greater range of possible values enables the following possible scenarios:
-
Casino rewards promotions: A casino marketing department produces an offer for $100 in free slot play. The printed offer includes the identity tag with the customer ID and a unique offer code, such as a casino chip. The customer brings this offer to the venue and places it on a Microsoft Surface screen. The customer code and offer are validated, and a $100 credit is associated with the customer account as downloadable credits. The next time the customer inserts their loyalty card into a slot machine, they receive the $100 credit to the machine.
-
Theme park photo pass: Passes are issued to guests of the park each day. The pass has an identity tag ID on it. As photos are taken throughout their visit to the park, the digital pictures are associated with the ID on the photo pass. The guests then place the pass on a Microsoft Surface screen and all the photos that are associated with the pass appear on the screen for the guests to view, manipulate, and purchase.
-
Hotel loyalty cards: Identity tags are placed on loyalty cards to identify customers. Premier customers have access to more services and applications on a Microsoft Surface unit than typical customers or those without a loyalty card.
-
Fast food kids' toys: Identity tags are placed on kids' toys. A user places the toy on a Microsoft Surface screen and the application responds to the toy in some way.
Creating Identity Tags
The Printing Tagged Objects topic describes general requirements for creating and printing tagged objects.
If you want to create and print your own identity tags, you can use the Identity Tag Printing Tool (GenTagUI.exe) to create identity tags by using a regular printer. You can also create identity tags by using the IdentityTagGenerator class in your own application.
After you create an identity tag, attach it to something solid, like a plastic card or heavy cardboard, because the tag must be perfectly flat for the Microsoft Surface Vision System to detect it. The black ink that is printed on an identity tag must be as dark as possible for the correct contrast between the white dots and the black background.
The identity tag printing tool enables you to generate a new series (Series) and values (Value) within that series. For example, consider a scenario like a promotion where Series represents a code for the promotion itself and Value represents individual offerings or even individual customers that the promotion targets.
After you create the Series and Value value, you can copy and paste them into your database or application code in XAML or C# format. You can also print the actual tag graphic to a black-and-white printer.
