Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination
Topic: Astronomy
From HandWiki - Reading time: 3 min
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| Code | (numeric: ) |
|---|---|
| Unit | |
| Nickname | Quid |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) | None |
The Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination (QUID) is a proposed "space currency" created as a viral marketing campaign launched by Travelex with the London-based public relations and advertising firm, talkPR. The full name is a backronym from 'quid', a slang term for the British Pound.[1] The campaign stated that Travelex was launching a new form of money for space tourists that had no sharp edges, was chemically inert, and had other advantages over paper money.[1]
The QUID
After coming up with the idea of a space-money campaign, talkPR and Travelex contacted the National Space Centre, whose employees were presented with a number of mockups made by the campaign artists and were asked to select one.
The end result was a series of circular clear discs with colored centers, symbolizing the eight planets of the Solar System inside, and denominations ranging from 1 to 10.[1] Each quid coin would have its own unique code number, similar to the serial number on paper currency, to allow tracking, and to prevent counterfeiting.[1] Travelex stated it planned to work with the Bank of England to begin registering the QUID as possible legal currency in the future.[1]
On October 5, 2007, a one-page press statement announcing the QUID was released and placed on the United Press International press release newswire.[1][2] The campaign was launched in the midst of intense press coverage of the Virgin Galactic news. The story was picked up by major news agencies in the UK,[3][4][5] and soon after, the US.[6][7] Science magazines and technological blog writers weighed in on the topic, calling it "useless" and "nonsense", further spreading the story.[6][7][8]
Statements by members of the NSC and the University of Leicester (who started the NSC) were added to the campaign release.[1] When the campaign concluded, NSC received the resulting coins and put them on display in their Space|Now display.
See also
- Space Adventures
- Space colonization
- Commercial Astronaut
- Space Tourism Society
- List of private spaceflight companies
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Travelex (2007). "Travelex Press Release". Travelex. http://www.travelex.co.uk/press/ENG/DOC_QUID_10042007.asp.
- ↑ United Press International (2007). "Going into space? Better bring some quid". United Press International. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2007/10/06/going_into_space_better_bring_some_quid/4113/.
- ↑ BBC News (October 5, 2007). "New currency for space travellers". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7029564.stm.
- ↑ Sky News (2007). "Quids In: New Space Currency Launched". Sky News. http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-1287061,00.html.
- ↑ Channel 4 News (2007). "Space currency named 'quids'". Channel 4 News. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/space+currency+named+quids/879462.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 John C. Dvorak (2007). "Cranky Geeks, Episode 85". Cranky Geeks Podcast. http://www.crankygeeks.com/2007/10/episode_85_apple_sued_over_bri.php.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wired (October 8, 2007). "Useless Space Money Invented". Wired News. http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/10/useless-space-m.html.
- ↑ Nature blog (2007). "'Space currency' nonsense". Nature. http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2007/10/space_currency_nonsense.html.
External links
- DVICE: Travelex QUID: "Intergalactic currency" for your next trip into space
- Res Communis blog: Space Law and Space Money
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