It never ceases to astound me that business cards are still being used as a major currency for trading/offering information about yourself. Given the high levels of tech most of us carry around at any given point, it seems almost ludicrous that we should return to the business card when it comes time to share the professional side of ourselves. Paper, it would seem, is so antiquated in a silicon world, though I’m not making a stand against the old ways. Often, they’re better. But what if there was a way to unite the paper world and the silicon world? A product called SwivelCard, which has surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter, is doing just that, and has photographers in its sights.
SwivelCard is a business card in the truest sense of the word. It not only carries the predictable basics common to general business cards such as your name, address, email, and other various contact info, but can transform into a USB drive which allows you to share anything from your website, to your resume, sales presentation, or any form of media.
[Related: Top 5 Custom USB Flash Drives for Photographers]
The mechanism is slick, even if a little primitive. Through a very simple fold, the normal form factor of a business card is transformed to offer a protrusion that’s a USB flash drive. It has enough storage to embed some pretty impressive features. You are able to load real data, track with realtime analytics, and update it remotely even after it’s been given out. You can program the entire set you’ve ordered to carry the same information, or you can specify what you’d like on any individual card. Oh, let’s not forget to mention that it’s also ‘wireless’ in the sense that you can bring it close to a mobile device and have the information read that way. It’s damn impressive.
[REWIND: How To Take A High Quality Still Image From Video With Ease, In Photoshop]
You can currently order 200 cards with a donation to the Kickstarter program of $259, though that limits you on the design you’d be able to have. To completely customize that package, you would be dropping $419. So, they’re not cheap, but is marketing ever? Marketing is always costly, even if it’s “just”your time.
Source: Gizmodo, Kickstarter
15 Comments
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amazing idea! ;)
I like the card with a built in USB attachment. The clients would definitely love it! But of course it would cost them a lot. But it will be worth it by the way. Perhaps I will tell this concept about my friend at http://www.businesscardking.net/build-start.php
This is a fantastic idea. With a portfolio and your business info, the potential client has the simplest way to see what you have to offer.
This idea is both super amazing and scary at the same time. Yeah, you could share your data with other people, but you also might be able to transfer all kinds of bad stuff to other people unwillingly… all in something that looks like a paper business card… wowser!
To quote Will Smith in Independence Day: “I have got to get me one of these!”
Looks like a great idea. What about people with iPads though, does the wireless feature still allow everything to be viewed?
That’s a good question Greg, but I’d assume that it would be foolish not to offer connectivity with iOS devices so it would likely work.
Great idea. I am curious about the negative potential. Viruses and or tracking software. I mean, you put a device in your computer from someone you don’t know and have no clue what could be on a file you open. I don’t eat samples at the grocery store either
Thats exactly what i was thinking!
I’m with you on the samples at the grocery store. I pass on those too.
I’ve got two words to describe this: Slick! Awesome!
My profession is not photography, but computer software development. This would be awesome to use!
These are slick cards and a great idea. A good lesson with business cards is, if they look like a million bucks. Clients won’t even blink at your fee or quote, they will already know your awesome. we have been using pasha designs for our cards for years. We use the metal and transparent cards.
Awesome!!!!
Wow what an amazing idea!
Pretty awesome idea, I might have to get a few of these!!!
=Matt=