The onion card allows the user to ‘peel’ away layers of information about themselves, allowing or denying access to a homepage or storage point of personal information. The ritualistic act of transfering cards is extended with both parties making evaluations about each other, tearing the card and removing relevant areas. The codes remaining on the card act as passwords to the pages holding information about the owner.

Design details
Personal information, based on homepage, is split into tiered information levels.

Card acts like a bunch of keys, allowing access to levels only approved by the sites owner.

Card retains standard format. the ritualistic act of exchanging card is extended by tearing off 'keys' disallowing access to those levels.

Card is customisable for personal or business relationships (see scenarios)

Imagine a first meeting between two people. respect for the other person could by shown by giving them access to your whole web–site. interesting imbalances would be created with the exchange of unbalanced cards.

Even the name on the card could be removed or replaced by a pseudonym, for handing out to people you never want to meet again.

The card would be used by swiping the bar through a reader, once to correct site has been downloaded each remaining key allows navigation to that page.

Wired
Ideo