• hddsx@lemmy.ca
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    2 months ago

    How does that even work? I’m glad lives were saved but the system must have something I’m missing.

    If there is a button on the back of the badge with your picture on it, you can’t use someone else’s badge. It also means there are electronics in the badge, and therefore a battery.

    Over time batteries will die and the badge system will become useless unless everyone gets new badges once a semester.

    • whatwhatwhatwhat@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I think the way the article worded it is confusing. Every staff member wears a photo ID badge, which is pretty common at most schools. At this school, their photo ID badges have a little button on the back. When that button is pressed, it activates the system.

      I’m sure the buttons have little batteries inside them, probably similar to the type of battery in a smoke alarm. These types of batteries can last for years. However, many school districts issue new photo ID badges to staff each school year, so perhaps batteries are being replaced at that time if needed.

    • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Over time batteries will die and the badge system will become useless unless everyone gets new badges once a semester.

      Or, you know, change the battery. Which would take seconds per unit if you’re doing a whole bunch of them.

      • hddsx@lemmy.ca
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        2 months ago

        Which would lead to a gap in protection. It’s also not clear if the battery is easily serviced

        • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          For a matter of seconds as someone chucks a new battery in the badge, sure.

          There’s not a lot of information about how the system actually works, but schools are typically quite budget conscious organisations, so I can’t imagine just throwing out the badge when the battery dies would go down well.