The idea of using the badges or other NFC tags we have for various convenience things around the makerspace is interesting to me, so I put together a simple prototype using an ESP32-C5, NXP PN532 and small display. Seems to work well reading the identifier of an NFC tag (including my badge when I tried it).
If you’re not familiar with the ESP32…it’s a popular programmable board that makes it easy to hook up various electronic devices and can connect to the Wi-Fi network. You could make fun interactive exhibits for example…maybe 3D print little figurines representing each studio and put an NFC sticker on the bottom of each…a guest in the entry area could set the figurine on a platform and then we could have a video or audio play describing the area.
[I’m generally considering security concerns outside the scope of this topic, though it is something I think about.]