Biometrics - Biometrics refers to methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. In information technology, in particular, biometrics is used as a form of identity access management and access control. It is also used to identify individuals in groups that are under surveillance.
Bluetooth - Bluetooth is an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs). It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.
CR79 Card - Smaller dimensionally than CR80 cards; Dimensions are 3.303" x 2.051" (83.9 mm x 51 mm).
CR80 Card - Standard card size; dimensions are 3.375" x 2.125" (85.6 mm x 54 mm).
CR90 Card - Driver's license size; slightly larger than the standard CR80, CR90 cards are 3.63" x 2.37" (92 mm x 60 mm).
CR100 Card - Often referred to as oversize or military-sized, CR100 cards measure 3.88" x 2.63" (98.5 mm x 67 mm).
Card Dispenser - A container used to store blank cards.
Chip - A piece of semi-conducting material (usually composed of silicon) on which an integrated circuit is embedded. It is fitted inside an ID card that is used to store user information and access privileges; also provides added security to prevent card counterfeiting.
Cleaning Card - Its purpose is to assist in keeping a card printer clean and to maintain the key parts of the printer including the printhead, transport rollers and magnetic encoding station. Some card printer manufacturers (e.g., Magicard) recommend cleaning the printer with a cleaning card each time the ribbon is replaced.
Cleaning Roller - Consists of an adhesive surface that picks up debris from blank cards. Some card printer manufacturers (e.g., Magicard) recommend replacing the cleaning roller after every 1000 prints or sooner.
Cleaning Tape - A roll of adhesive-lined material and its purpose is to pick up debris from blank cards prior to printing.
Contact Smart Card - Contains a single embedded circuit chip that contains memory, or memory plus a microprocessor. Contact smart cards must be inserted into a card acceptor device where pins attached to the reader make "contact" with pads on the surface of the card to read and store information in the chip.
Contactless Smart Card - (Proximity card/prox card) Contains a chip that is connected to an antenna (rather than contact pads as in contact smart cards). The communication between the chip and the reader is therefore wireless.
DPI - (Dots per inch) Measurement of a printer's resolution. For example, 600 DPI indicates that the printer can produce 600 dots of color in each inch of a card..
Direct-to-Card Printing - (DTC) The process used to transfer images directly onto plastic cards by heating a print ribbon beneath a thermal print head.
Dual Interface - Combines both contact and contactless chip technologies, using the same chip. The chip is connected to the contact pad on the top of the card and the antenna inside the card.
Duplex - (Dual-sided) Capable of printing on both sides of a card.
Edge-to-Edge - (Edgeless/over-the-edge) Refers to the maximum printable area on a card. Printers with edge-to-edge printing capability can print just to the edge of a card resulting in printed cards with virtually no border.
Encoding - The process of electronically "writing" information on magnetic stripes or into a variety of smart card types.
Fingerprint Reader - (Fingerprint capture device, fingerprint scanner) A form of biometrics technology in which a scanner is used to identify a person's fingerprint for security purposes.
Fire Wire - (IEEE 1394) High speed external connection used for connecting peripherals.
Guilloche Pattern - in English usually Guilloche, is an engraving technique in which a very precise intricate repetitive pattern or design is mechanically etched into an underlying material with very fine detail. Specifically, it involves a technique of engine turning, called guilloch in French after the French engineer? who invented a machine hat could scratch fine patterns and designs on metallic surfaces?The machine improved upon the more time-consuming practice of making similar designs by hand, allowing for greater delicacy, precision, and closeness of the line, as well as greater speed.
Half Panel YMCKO Ribbon - Consists of half of the normal yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) color panels, but full panels of the black (K) and clear overlay (O). The objective of this ribbon is to allow twice the normal ribbon yield than the standard YMKCO ribbon at a lower cost per card.
High Coercivity - Magnetic coding on a magnetic stripe. High Coercivity stripes are generally black and store information on a more secure basis than low coercivity magnetic stripes, due to the higher level of magnetic energy required to encode them. Information is harder to erase on High Coercivity cards; therefore, they are common in applications where cards are swiped often and require a long life (e.g., credit card applications).
High Definition Printing - (HDP) This process prints full color images onto clear or holographic HDP transfer film. The HDP film is then fused to the card through heat and pressure via a heated roller. This revolutionary technology enhances protection against card tampering and everyday wear and tear, in addition to consistently producing the best card color available. HDP printing is ideal for printing on cards with uneven surfaces or unique features, such as proximity cards, smart cards and tough-to-print matte-finished cards.
Hologram - Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that it appears as if the object is in the same position relative to the recording medium as it was when recorded. The image changes as the position and orientation of the viewing system changes in exactly the same way as if the object were still present, thus making the recorded image appear three dimensional.The technique of holography can also be used to optically store, retrieve, and process information. While holography is commonly used to display static 3-D pictures, it is not yet possible to generate arbitrary scenes by a holographic volumetric display.
HoloMark - A tamper-evident, instantly verifiable 3-D image in a high resolution hologram embedded onto a card. Fargo standard and custom HoloMark cards provide an added level of protection against ID counterfeiting.
HoloMark Seal - A Fargo-brand peel-and-stick 3-D seal that if removed from a card, is not reusable. A checkerboard pattern will appear to indicate both the card and the seal have been tampered with.
HoloPatch - A unique Magicard visible gold patch built into blank card stock; HoloPatch works with HoloKote to highlight one of the HoloKote watermarks, providing daylight-visible ID card security
IS II - Japanese Industrial Standard for magnetic stripe encoding. JIS II is published and translated into English by the Japan Standards Association.
Key FOB - A security token that can be attached to a keychain.
Lamination - (Overlamination) The process of combining lamination material and core material using time, heat and pressure.
Lanyard - A lanyardis a rope or cord often worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times.
Machine Readable - A code or characters that can be read by machines.
Magnetic Stripe - (Magstripe) Refers to the black or brown magnetic stripe on a card. The stripe is made of magnetic particles of resin. The resin particle material determines the coercivity of the stripe; the higher the coercivity, the harder it is to encode and erase information from the stripe. Magnetic stripes are often used in applications for access control, time and attendance, lunch programs, library cards and more.v
Memory Card - A type of smart card. Also known as a synchronous card, it features 256 bit or 32 byte memory and is suitable for use as a token card or identification card.
Network ID Software - Software that allows the saving, storage and sharing of cardholder records and data across multiple facilities, departments and applications.
Open Database Connection - (ODBC) Any card software with an ODBC connection allows you to share data between databases.
Overlay - A clear overlay panel is automatically applied to printed cards and helps prevent images from wear or UV fading.
PVC - The material used for typical plastic cards.
Printer Driver - The software that enables the printer to be recognized and function under a specific operating system, such as Microsoft Windows Vista.
Proximity Card - Embedded antenna coil, which allows the card to communicate with an external antenna.
RFID - A wireless technology for communication between electronic devices.
Resolution - Dimension of the smallest element of an image that can be printed; usually stated in dots  per inch (DPI).
Reverse Transfer - (Re-transfer) ID card printing technique where the card image is first printed onto a transparent re-transfer film, that is then stuck onto the card surface. Re-transfer printing provides high quality images and provides the ability to print on uneven card surfaces and/or differing materials.
Signature Capture Pad - A form of biometrics technology that contains a touchpad sensor that reads the pressure applied to a stylus tip used for signing, and then transmits the signature data to a computer.
Smart Card - Smart cards have an embedded electronic circuit that contains either a memory chip or a microprocessor.
Universal Serial Bus Interface - (USB) USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a way of setting up communication between a computer and peripheral devices. USB is intended to replace many varieties of serial and parallel ports.
VeriMark - A tamper-evident, instantly verifiable 2-D silver metallic foil embedded with a logo or other custom graphics onto a card using a hot stamp process. Fargo custom VeriMark cards provide an added level of protection against ID counterfeiting.
Visitor Management Software - Software used to for managing visitors.
YMC - (Yellow, magenta, cyan) Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors.
YMCK - (Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome) Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. Monochrome or 'K' is black resin panel.
YMCKK - (Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, monochrome) Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. Monochrome or 'K' are black resin panels - the latter 'K' is used for monochrome printing on the back side of a card.
YMCKT - (Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, topcoat) Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. Monochrome or 'K' is a black resin panel, and the topcoat panel provides the card with minimal protection against everyday use and environmental elements (e.g., UV rays).
YMCKO - (Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, overcoat) Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. Monochrome or 'K' is a black resin panel, and clear overlay or 'O' is a thin, protective layer.
YMCKOK - (Yellow, magenta, cyan, monochrome, overcoat, monochrome) Yellow, magenta and cyan are the primary print colors for cards. The three colors are combined in varying degrees to make a full spectrum of colors. Monochrome or 'K' is a black resin panel, and clear overlay or 'O' is a thin, protective layer. The latter 'K' is used for monochrome printing on the back side of a card.