This creates problems for all sorts of people. The wearer of the badge must constantly be looking down to make sure that the credential can be seen. When two badge-wearers meet, often they must guess at each other's identity. And, most seriously, security people must constantly be asking badge wearers to flip them over, wasting valuable time.

At some conferences in the past, organizers have made feeble efforts to solve this problem. They have designed wider badges in the hope that this would increase their stability. It didn't. They have devised badges attached to the ribbon in two places instead of one. They have tried using heavier plastic. All to no avail.

But there is, in fact, a ready answer to this conundrum. After thinking about this problem for the better part of a decade, while at the same time having to cope with its ramifications at more than a dozen international conferences, I have come up with a solution, which I offer to the world freely in the name of public service.

The solution is (drumroll, please):

Print the badge on both sides.

The technology already exists. Even relatively inexpensive computer printers can print on both sides of a sheet. There are some, no doubt, that can print both sides simultaneously.

The added cost of the two-sided printing would be negligible, requiring only a minute added quantity of ink or toner. I feel certain that some global-minded philanthropist or foundation could be induced to volunteer to help defray this added cost, whatever it might be.

With tongue firmly in cheek, I ask no recompense for this invention, no expression of gratitude, not even that my name be used to identify this new kind of badge-or, as some might say, of freeman. All that remains to be done is for us to take action. Conference goers of the world, unite!

You have nothing to lose but your anonymity! I have seen the future and it is this: the two-faced badge!