After the Idea Exchange was removed from Connect, new requests for some form of ID from Google to show to business owners and security guards emerged. The old and maybe longest discussion from the Idea Exchange days is this one Local Guide ID Card?
For examples of the new requests please see these posts:
I understand why some Local Guides feel the need for an ID card, but I also understand why Google will never accommodate this request. We are encouraged to use our profile page in the Google Maps app as an ID. From the profile page, we can easily show examples of our reviews and photos.
To make it easier to show our Maps Profile Page and make it possible to show your photos on business owners’ phones I thought it could be helpful to use the QR code technology. Let me explain the steps:
Open Google Maps on your phone.
Tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
Select “Your profile”
Tap the share icon at the top (looks like a < with dots)
Then past the link under “Website address”. Here you need to manually delete the text: “See what I’ve posted to Google Maps - Level 10 Local Guide” so only the link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h8TGUQS2cCZfnrQV9 remains.
Then hit Download (orange button) and save the resulting QR code.
Find the image and rename it to “My Maps Profile” and “Create desktop shortcut” under “More”.
This is what the shortcut looks like on my phone’s home screen:
We can then invite business owners and others to scan this QR code to easily open my Maps profile on their phones. And I can show them some of my photos and reviews and even my contribution stats on their device.
They just need to open their camera and point to the QR code and tap the little pop-up box “Open Google Maps/browser”. Feel free to test this by pointing your camera to my QR code shown above.
Showing your profile on their phone can be more convincing and trustworthy than showing something on your own phone.
You can invite the business owner to follow you on Google Maps and explain that your username will be shown above all your photos on Maps.
You can also print and maybe laminate the QR code and carry it with you. I just prefer to have everything on my phone. Or you can make a sticker to place on your phone cover.
Hi @MortenCopenhagen This is a good solution. Right now, almost everything in Turkey is with QR codes. Menus, prices, addresses of places… Therefore, this might be a good option. But I’m sure some businesses won’t let you read it. It can be supported. Because sometimes I learn later that there are local guides in the places I go. So it would be nice to have something to show that there is a local guide physically, so that we can find our local guide friends. congratulations:smiling_face:
This is a very smart idea. I admire your IT knowledge and help on connect and the maps well-done. Kudos to a senior local guide and guiding star.
Nevertheless I’ll still prefer to show my profile on my phone directly if necessary. I try to do my best to keep out of troubles. I have been in trouble very once. I promised myself it will not happen again.
I don’t think I like the idea of carrying something outside my phone(Especially that I printed myself)to show my authentication as local guide.
It will be interesting to hear what others think. Nevertheless,it’s a smart one.
Ok, when you want to know my opinion, I say it directly. Look, there are many differences between your country and my country. As a result, if I have to think about something like this, I have to think about my country first.
Many people in our country are illiterate, some are semi literate. And you mentioned in your post about security guards, you will scan the QR code with them. Where in our country there are few educated people in charge of security guards. They will laugh at my face without scanning the QR code. And it’s also a funny thing that I’ll just show a QR code.
I know you won’t like me at all. But the truth is bitter. I said this in the light of my country. I think India and Pakistan are likely to do the same. @KashifMisidia from Pakistan’s and @NareshDarji from India, they can say well.
Your idea is great to have a QR code that when scanned will go to our contribution profile on the map. But if there is some more information written there like, name, level, country etc. then there is QR code, then it will be more better.
I’m in no way upset by your opinion on this. Thanks for sharing it. This is actually, the beauty of having a truly international forum.
I was hoping this would be helpful in areas also from where there has been plenty of ID requests from. Including the countries you mentioned.
As mentioned by others the simple QR technology is being used a lot in many cultures. But if business owners and others have no phone, or can not read, then this will of cause be of very limited value.
In my opinion Google is very unlikely to issue physical ID cards to 150+ million volunteers. I say this after such suggestions have been ignored for years now. To me the legal liabilities will prevent this from ever happening. What makes you hopeful that physical ID cards will become a reality? Please also share your thoughts on other alternatives.
Assalam Alaikum welcome My thought :-:- My thought to me (save one’s hard work from getting wasted) @ AC 50 is very good and good choice+:+#"-"- God willing ::!::--+:+_ outstanding A platform that has a community online helper from the country that lacks such a system.Sayyid people bring them to the front who will learn quickly @ AC50 Sorry if anyone doesn’t understand what I’m saying And now I need a vote My world Error worke to those people We will take it that helping people is permissible in the law of every country Helping people for 5-6 years Help me In every gathering these (pearl words
Assalam Alaikum 
welcome 
My thought :-:- 