Imperial ID and Communicator

[OldSalt]

Here are my take on some items from my Classic Traveller campaign, they are not canon so here is my take on these items. Feel free to shoot things down.

Imperial ID is a Tech Level 12-15 artefact used to prove identity. It bears the public citizenship number and can be used to reveal the private citizenship number used to verify ID in a manner akin to the US social security number.

It is widely used for banking, as the card securely stores a credit score. Big purchases sometimes require a delay to tally someone's credit history across diverse records.

The Imperial Communicator is a handheld, robust communicator that allows an Imperial citizen to communicate using various protocols at differing tech levels.
* The first is radio.
* The next is a number of cellular standards, using someone public ID number to call someone direct.
* Datanet (internet) protocols can be used too.
* Location facilities, dependent on TL.

It has a large button for radio dialogue, a small touch screen (not dependent on conductivity) and an ID card reader. You synch your communicator with your card, using the private number, to allow you to be reached via your public number.

If you use it you are agreeing to be tracked by the Imperium but this has advantages for honest citizens, as it can establish their location if they are accussed of something. Through it you can conduct secure commerce, with the Imperium recording transactions.

A charge normally lasts for two days.

 

[Hyphen]

Both look pretty cool. I'd suggest the battery life would go up by TL; maybe 2d is for the base TL 9 model, 2 weeks for the TL 15 version..

I'd also suggest that the use of Imperial ID's depends on your view of the Imperium. Here are some of the alternatives:
- the Imperium does not issue Imperial IDs, it polices the spacelanes but doesn't really look after its citizens really closely
- all Imperial military (and ex-military) personnel are given an Imperial ID; citizens can obtain an Imperial ID, but most don't bother unless they're travelling off-world, simply because it's not really useful on-planet
- the Imperium is a big place; while in some areas ID's are de rigueur (e.g. the Core regions), other areas are more laissez-faire (e.g. the Marches)
- Every Citizen Has An Imperial ID, The Computer Is Your Friend

Or some combination of the above. ;-)

 

[OldSalt]

I'll definitely consider battery life, in fact at a threshold tech level Tesla's dream of broadcast power will probably be available.

With the IDs I would have nobles and ex-service having them, opening up full facilities but opening themselves up to surveillance in the process. Other people might aspire to a full ID but untill then physical currency and system-based commercial banking will have to do.

I would have vast pools of data, with its transaction history, being transferred by jump primarily by X-Boat. It would contain criminal, financial and strategic information, which ideally would be reconciled across mutiple sources to check for attempts to alter or corrupt the data. Send data beyond the X-Boat system allows multiple dispatches of a single data package to propogate out, and return enriched.

Exceptional examination of that data would potentially reveal changes of transponder codes, tracking of citizens and other "second order" analysis.

Therefore major transactions are best done within systems served by X-Boats.

 

[Spenser TR]

Ahhhhh the Imperial ID. Do I keep mentioning supplements in the works? Here are some thoughts on the Imperial ID IMTU…

( assumptions - IMTU I definitely assume storage, processing power, and energy storage are solved problems at higher TLs. )

The IID is:

Durable, exceedingly difficult to counterfeit

Necessary as a “passport” when traveling planet to planet within the Imperium. That being said, vast majority of sophonts never have one.

Open to any Imperial subjects with a singular physical form who want one and can adequately establish their identity at an Imperial facility that can produce them.

Issued as a matter of course upon indoctrination into Imperial service, military, civil, or otherwise.

Some worlds opt into having it as their ID, just as some worlds opt into the ImpCr and forgo their own currency. Some do not.

Different physical variants - “flat” version that’s just a card, with some info stored, a “cloth” version popular in some cultures and TLs, an “impressed” variant that can carry various digital endorsements such as medical or military records, licenses, signatures from various authorities or orgs, past “stamps” from planetary system entries, and so on.

The impressed variants also have different “views” accessible by tapping the IID - Anglic, Vilani, and the language of the sophont’s homeward if it’s neither of the former. There’s also an “anonymous” mode that validates and passes a reader’s check, but doesn’t convey identity except in specific cases.

There are also different presentational classes - shapes or facings that readily identify the IID as a Scout IID, Noble IID, ex-criminal IID, and so on.

Different forms may be “used” in different ways. You can always produce the IID and just hand it to someone asking for it. Some can be tapped on a reader, or swiped. Some waved close by, others detected and validated/verified remotely. Impressed versions can be used as keys to open doors, unlock vehicle drive systems, grant access, allow arrest powers, and so forth all depending on the various entitlements/keys/impressments the particular IID carries, and whether it validates ( this is a valid IID with these privileges ) and verifies ( the sophont presenting it is the owner of this IID ) the current holder.

The IID is also an instrument of Imperial diplomacy and cultural propagation; impressed versions have various data stored by default such as language/dialect examples, hygiene procedures, Emperor’s histories, school-level Imperial atlas, and so on.

Impressed versions can self-validate - when a basic gesture is performed ( such as a thumb on the corner ) by the owner the ID visually confirms identity.

All versions ( including the flat one ) can “brick” and be rendered invalid under certain circumstances or as game plot requires

All versions have a “deceased” mode.

Certainly Agents can have access to special versions that alter, that can be set on the fly, and perform other surprise feats.

--

The following information is found on an IID, regardless of source, type, or issuing TL:

Unique alphanumeric Identifier String ( UIS )
This is a long letters and number string that’s unique to every sophont in the Imperium. A number space large enough so that there will be no repeats in the next 500 years. This string also has identifiers of homeworld, issuing agency, race, and other aspects.

Name
This is the name the sophont is identified with on his homeworld’s ID, his breeder documentation, or his last Imperial ID.

Facial image of bearer
Looking straight ahead, no smiling, nothing obfuscating

Date of Birth
In accordance with records

Race/Morphogenia
The designation of what recognized species the individual is

Gender
Whatever applies

Species-specific visual identifiers
With humans, this will be height, weight, complexion, eye color, fingerprint, and so on

Homeworld ( Imp/Dom/sec/SubSec/World )
Where the sophont was born/hatched/whatever. This is usually an Imperial member world, but not always.

Home language/dialect
This is a recognized language that the sophont certifies they speak and can understand. By law the sophont must be able to communicate in the language indicated here.

Place of birth ( Imp/Dom/sec/SubSec/World )
May be different than registered homeworld

Issuing authority/place ( Imp/Dom/sec/SubSec/World )
This might be the Starport Authority at Rhylanor highport, the Scout base at Berengana, the Imperial Consulate on Darrya, and so on.

Valid dates
This field is optional If there is no expiration date, the document does not expire, even with the sophonts death.

Biometric data
IIDs carry biometric data and microsamples from their bearers.

-

The idea of an Imperial ID is certainly canon - Agent Bland asks five Naval officers to produce and hold theirs in front of them, and the core rulebook of the Lorenverse even has a ( brief ) Library entry for the Imperial ID. I could talk about data propagation, the Imperial "system," in-game potential tidbits, cultural effects and affects of the IID all day long ^_^

 

[Spartan159]

Spencer TR, I like what you have written here. What advantages and disadvantages do you see with having/using a card?

 

[Spenser TR]

What advantages and disadvantages do you see with having/using a card?

Some of the upsides for individuals...

• To get what’s due to them - pension payments, medical care, access to really sweet weaponry, whatever. This isn’t possible without an accurate means to identify. Also, the individual has a need to be able to successfully interface with a given network; this is facilitated with proper identification. 

• To protect against others acquiring, taking, stealing what’s not theirs. To prevent theft of identity.

• Access personal systems - your IID can unlock or grant access to personal data systems, your ship, your gear, and so on. Some gear works without this, but many technical items can make use of a sophont’s Imperial ID as a means of properly identifying them and granting access.

• Vouch for dependents. It may be that you have an Imperial ID but your dependents do not. If the IID contains info on your dependents, the ID in effect works to identify them as well, at least in some instances, and allows access to benefits, as above. 

• Efficiency and ease. It’s way easier to access Imperial facilities and resources with an IID

• Freer movement. It’s easier to move about a sprawling bureaucratic empire with a reliable IID. 

• The IID might be an individual’s only access to a working computer and digital storage


upsides for the Imperium…

• It’s certainly in the Imperium’s best interest to identify an individual sophont with accuracy and integrity, for a host of reasons including the correct issue of resources as benefits. For this reason and all others, the Imperium sets standards throughout its domain for the requirements of an ID - the necessary breeder documentation, identification procedures and processes, as well as the validation criteria and forms the ID can take. ▮

• As a demonstration of sovereignty. As discussed already. 

• To provide basic, “official” information. Versions of the ID that can store basic info on the Imperium, civics, history, linguistic standards, hygiene, and so on act as a vector and repository for Imperial culture. Variants of the Imperial ID that cannot store digital information have references to such data.

• Fight crime and terrorism. The accurate tracking of identity is paramount to analysing and fighting crime and terrorism in the Imperium, as well as securing facilities or resources against undesirable elements.

• Track sensitive information. Along with the above, the Imperium also has a vested interest in tracking the pairing of individuals and their weapons permits, starships papers, and other official documentation. IDs make this possible.

• Tracking and controlling immigration. The movement of individuals and populations from world to world is of serious interest to the Imperial bureaucracy, acting as part o the census data and all the information that’s synthesized from this. Along with this, keeping tabs on certain individuals and populations/sub-cultures in particular is important. 

• The IMperium needs to be able to control and regulate access to certain areas, as well as assure clearances, resources, and sensitive information is given to appropriate individuals. 

• Border control is a key faculty of any sovereignty

• Imperial Identification makes human rights monitoring more efficient. The ability to track individual movements is a big first step in deterring sophont trafficking 


upsides for the banks…

• Sophonts need to be able to access their financial resources, and only theirs. Banks need to be able to insure the correct allocation of financial specie and instruments. 

• Confirmation of debt, or payment on debt, can only be accomplished across worlds with successful identification verification and validation. 


for other businesses ( corps, travel concerns, medical concerns )…

• Many similar reasons to government, notably the correct allocation of resources or disclosure of sensitive information

• Corporations have a vested interest in tracking employees, patients, clients, and others’ movement and information in order to effectively engage in and regulate commerce. 

• Because imperium cares. This seems off the cuff, but the Imperial government mandates strict identification of customers in some cases, so this concern is passed along and becomes a concern of the business that is an intermediary or regulated by the Imperium.

Downsides for everyone can probably be summed up in the simple point: traceability. Sometimes, it's to your advantage when some or all of the above does not happen.

--

It also occurs to me that if you meant literally, like, why using a -card- as the form of ID is good or bad, then:

1. I'm embarrassed about all the above ( and laughing at myself, here ) and
2. A card ( as opposed to the "cloth" digital form, or other variants, has the upsides of being easy to store, of being a physical artifact ( and thus given some additional level of credence by many species ), easier to manipulate, and the most widespread of the variants in Charted Space. Downsides might include it's easier to lose track of, maybe a local cultural bias against the card or in favor of the other variants.

 

[Spartan159]

It also occurs to me that if you meant literally, like, why using a -card- as the form of ID is good or bad, then:

Actually, I was using card in its generic sense, but since I am somewhat confused as to what the cloth and impressed versions are physically, could you describe them?

Also, I was wondering about downsides such as privacy issues perhaps.

 

[Enoki]

Communicator? How droll... I use for personal communications and such the "Perscomm."

This is a TL 12 - 15 item that combines something like a cell phone / radio that can automatically sense available wireless connections and link to them for communication, with a personal computer that can hold a mass of data, maps, navigation, and the like as well. The higher tech ones can make basic holographic projections. They can act as video and camera both for display and recording.

The idea is that it is a multi-function personal tool that allows you to communicate, get and send data, find your way, and do other "stuff" like that (not limited necessarily to the above). On higher tech worlds (TL 8 +) where there'd be a networked worldwide communications system, this device would allow you some degree of access worldwide.
Below that, the range is limited for transmission to line of sight and a few kilometers.

The battery would give about 12 to 16 hours of run time and it could be recharged from most electrical sources inductively.

 

[Spenser TR]

First… I want to apologize to the original poster, OldSalt. I’m pretty sure you didn’t expect someone else to come to your thread and drop a bit of Britannica on your thoughts. I gave some thought to starting my own thread, but really that’s just silly; here is where we’re talking about IDs on the forum at the moment. I definitely don’t mean any disrespect, and I very much appreciate you bringing the topic up.

——

In my own Traveller universe, I see the Imperium as a cosmopolitan place with a serious variety of cultural influences that trickle into gameplay. For the forms of ID, I first came at the idea from a pretty non-rational point of view: what different forms might be interesting or original to have in the game or feature in fiction? And then I did some noodling around what might be at least basically practical or reasonable, and kinda hammered away at it. Please forgive my term “astrocloth,” as it’s just a placeholder until I find or come up with something better.

( Some copy-pasta draft notes from the ID supplement I have follows, alpha-version stuff that definitely needs to percolate a bit. Privacy thoughts off the top of my head below that. )

------

In the “Intro” section of my draft doc…

The Neoteric variant of the IID ( the “average” version of the document, more on this later ) is a nigh-indestructible plasteel-encased artifact about twice the size of a old Terra credit card. It’s flat and thin, and its surface is actually a display, as well as an interface. It shows data such as the sophont’s particulars and a head and shoulders image. How an IID “looks” can change depend on where it’s held, tapped, or otherwise interacted with. There are many “standard” but modifiable configurations of the blocks of info and functionality.

and later, going into more detail on form…

---Breaking it down - Classes and Variants of Imperial ID----

As discussed, the Imperial ID can take multiple forms, designated here by Class. These Classes are roughly indicative of enabling TL

Class 0 - Basal - astrocloth, parchment
This class of ID is typically manufactured on low TL worlds. The materials are manufactured elsewhere ( at places of higher TL ) and shipped to the member world. The materials themselves are durable and made in such a way to enable easy official imprinting and dissuade counterfeiting. The two most common materials for this are astrocloth and astroparchment.

Astrocloth presents as a light-colored linen, and may be rolled, folded, wadded, worn, or otherwise used as fabric might. It is extremely durable and resistant to staining, fraying, cutting, and tearing. It can be washed or subjected to a surprising amount of stress before it starts to degrade. The bearer’s identifying info is printed on the cloth in a standard layout and manner in the sophont’s language and Anglic, and their image from their “shoulders” up is recorded and printed by use of a light source and specially-designed lens. The finished artifact is not unlike a piece of linen that has info and image printed on it. An Astrocloth ID is not typically created with endorsements, but it is possible to add these if the appropriate TL device is available.

Astroparchment is a paper-like analog to astrocloth. It is similarly robust and durable, but presents more like paper. Both parchment and cloth variants are made from materials exclusive to their function, base materials that are very tightly controlled. They further protected against counterfeit by the presence of nanomarkers that are extremely difficult to produce outside of official channels.

Basal IIDs are issued on homeworlds where the infrastructure restricts options to just these. They are the easiest to issue, and the most durable. They cannot hold digital Endorsements. A world whose base TL is 5 or higher will likely not issue Basal IIDs, unless there is a very compelling local reason.

Class 1 - flat
This class is common on worlds with a TL 7 or lower. The ID is a durable laminate of a square or rectangular shape that has a photographic image and written information upon it. It is small and quite portable, fitting in the pocket. A flat ID has no capacity to store digital information, although it may contain textual endorsements. A flat ID has no ability to detect, communicate with, or react to other technology. It is preternaturally durable.

The Flat IID also has many anti-counterfeiting measures such as embedded microwriting, nanomarkers, and conductive threading. These are unique to the issuing agency and may contain other metadata for validation as well.

A world of TL 7 or higher will almost never issue a Flat or Basal IID, again unless there is a very compelling local reason that makes this the best choice.

Class 2 - impressed
This form is similar to the “flat” version, but it’s not so limited; there is readable data inside this IID in the form of a chip, so it’s capable of storing digital endorsements and highly detailed identifying information of the bearer. This card can be thought of as a “flat-plus” model, readable and writeable. Except for minor markings which afford this capability to store digital endorsements, the impressed ID is indistinguishable from the flat version.

A world of TL 9 or higher will usually not issue an Impressed IID or anything more rudimentary.

Class 3 - Neoteric
This is the most advanced variant common within the Imperium, and is also the version issued by most Imperial entities such as the armed services, the Scout Service, the Ministry of Justice, and so on. The neoteric ID has all the capability and durability of earlier TL versions, but also has comm and computational capacity. It typically acts as a repository for endorsements, and has validation features that readily distinguish the bearer as the being described by the ID.

The neoteric version can also be set to anonymous mode where an individual’s status is read and certain endorsements are available without their identifying information.

Neoteric IDs typically come with a default load of information files proscribed by the Imperium including histories, maps of charted Space, details on the Imperium emperors, Anglic language samples ( for better linguistic standardization across the breadth of the Imperium ), hygiene information, and so on.

The neoteric ID is detectable by most pieces of ID verification/validation equipment, depending on the sensitivity of the equipment this could be done at a distance.

Finally, neoteric IDs are self-verifying. If a human ( for example ) places either thumb in the correct place while presenting the Imperial ID, a very sophisticated verification swiftly takes place in the physical artifact of the ID. The individual attached to the thumb and proffering the ID is verified to be the individual described by its information and endorsements by internal mechanisms of the ID, and the card visually confirms this. This is verification only; The System might do its own verification, and these steps are apart from validation, which are the confirmations done by the person checking ( or by their equipment ) to determine that the ID is in fact a valid Imperial ID, and not a hunk of plasteen made to look like an ID.

Class 4 - physical dongle
This ID is almost functionally identical to the neoteric version, but has a different physical form, typically a piece of wearable jewelry. The dongle is capable of delivering all of the neoteric’s functionality as well as a projection of a flat representation of the ID and it’s information.

Class 5 - “other”
There are expressions of the Imperial ID that accommodate or provide special affordances for specific races or classes of sophont. The often-given example here is the ID that also displays in the olfactory spectrum the proper Verification or Validating information in the form of trace pheromones, but the Class 5 could instead ( or additionally ) include sensory information in spectrums other than those detectable by humans - visual, tactile, or otherwise.

These different options always accommodate human perception for verification and validation, but take diversity into consideration. All versions of these versions of Class are open to Validation and Verification on all Imperial-certified IID equipment.

— —

 

[Spenser TR]

and then, on privacy...

--------

When I mentioned “traceability” above, I was talking about privacy. I could have definitely been clearer.

As a sophont, sometimes you just don’t want people in your biz, or your actions tracked. IMTU you need an IID to access certain spaces, services, and certainly if there are “any Imperial entanglements.” This sounds like a pain, but for story and game purposes IMTU it usually adds a great layer of challenge and drama to plans. The higher the Law Level, typically the more of a pain everyone is about IIDs, as well as all the potential drama that can arise in a situation where there’s tension between a world govt and the Imperium. Kinda like having the wrong passport in the wrong country, today in our world.

But back to privacy… higher TL systems and orgs are going to have better/faster/more accurate updates, they’re going to generate pools of data on an IIDs and sophonts’ movements and activities. Kinda like you see today with Big Data and the potential for silliness there. Figure Naval Intelligence or the Scouts on the one end, access to the latest and greatest tech, up to date on in-system uses of someone’s IID, fairly up to date on historical data from elsewhere, depending on if that activity was done on a world on a main or the Boat network. Megacorps might have the same level of access, or some riff on this. Criminals might be able to access these pools of data as well, but mostly for plot purposes.

I feel like some versions of the IID might be able to be located, bricked, or affected by authorities or bad actors with the right tech. I’m sure there’s a way to “turn off” or otherwise shield your IID against sending or broadcasting ( at least the company that makes the wallet said it was effective! ).

I also feel like world governments ( as opposed to Imperial authorities ) would have very limited or no access to this information. I’d leverage some of our real world model and passports, here. Using the USA as an example, a foreign border agent has some access to US passport information - they can interrogate a passport to see if it’s valid, for instance. But they ( probably ) don’t have access to all that movement data unless there’s some special agreement with the Imperium, or someone’s gained access somehow. IMTU this is the kind of relationship member worlds have with IID data, but of course plot can allow for all kinds of interesting riffs on this in a game.

 

[Spenser TR]

And as long as we’re talking about it… in my own Traveller Universe, power for most any non-weapon, non-industrial portable device above TL9 is not “a thing” for a couple reasons.

I don’t feel like challenging the players on that front ( ooooops, your charge is running low! ) comes in handy or makes the game better all that often, and is more of a hassle to track than the reward of drama it usually provides. If as a Ref I need something to power down, break, or I need to introduce a fail for some reason, it just happens. I try to keep this believable and feel fair.

Also, in my head there’s always that tension about “hey, it’s the 57th century, c’mon…” so some of these things are just solved. Definitely a “your milage may vary” kind of thing, I understand.

 

[Enoki]

On personal ID:

Since I normally run things with a mix of Imperial and outside the Imperium, having just some Imperial ID system isn't going to hack it.

You're from some backwater world TL 5? I doubt that your planet issues some high tech ID card to you. You have "papers." That may or may not be enough somewhere else to get you past customs.
At worst, customs most places gives you a limited time on world. This could be anywhere from say 72 hours (3 local days whatever that amounts to) to a couple of weeks. You are admonished you are entitled to nothing from the local government and may not get a job locally... That is, you're a tourist or guest not an immigrant.
Overstay your welcome and there are consequences (depending on law level).

Some worlds may require you get the equivalent of a visa first. This might even be required before you arrive having to visit one of their embassies.

If you're ship's crew you get a little more deference since it's assumed when the ship leaves you'll be on it.

On other worlds "customs" expects you to plop 10 or 20 Cr in front of them and you're on your way no questions asked.

Still on others, "customs" either doesn't exist or if they do they simply don't care unless you are doing something obviously illegal.

These last two don't want to see your credentials.

As for money, that has to be in a portable form that is widely recognized. Credits are one such form. I use something called a sliver (non-canon) too. This is similar to a Krugerrand or a piece of eight. It is intrinsically valuable and widely recognized.
Any non-local currency may require you go to a bank / money exchange / back of the music shop guy who will do it under the table, to get local currency to spend as what you have may not work locally everywhere.

All of this is really just an extension of international travel on Earth.

 

[Condottiere]

Most people never travel beyond their own system, so won't need it.

I'll speculate that you get issued one once you've entered an Imperium facility, such as a starport, which is more a way to keep track of you, but will get filed in various Imperium databases, where algorithms will scan it if you happen to be a person of interest.

It's probably a chip on a credit card, which will be valid for entry in other Imperium facilities open to the public. It probably is backwards compatible with lower technological level scanners, but probably is manufactured at technological level twelve.

You could call it a Green Card.

The next one would be for people serving in Imperium institutions, like bureaucrats or military personnel, or even interstellar corporations, who travel around. Probably manufactured at technological level fourteen.

That could be the Gold Card.

Imperium Nobility would be issued, and planetary aristocracy could apply for, a chip that's embedded in their palm, and manufactured at technological level fifteen.

That would be the Platinum Card.

 

[OldSalt]

Have no fear, old chap. Any discussion of Imperial IDs or communicators is OK with me.

All good food for thought.