The research, or the scans?! Sorry, had to throw in that poorly executed attempt at humor there! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think you are misunderstanding the purporse of such scans. I don't consider these scans as long term, 100% proof of identity. We're talking short term use in emergencies. Such scans may be good enough to receive immediate aid in a Katrina type disaster. Then again, maybe not. But you have to admit that scans can't be worse than nothing at all.

A scan of my driver's license may be worthless to prove age to buy beer with (all's you have to do is look at me to know I'm WAY over 21 years old!) However, it certainly lists my state, address, license number, etc. All things that could speed things up for some authority trying to track down acceptable documentation on me.

Scanned pictures of my family? I don't want to PROVE they're my family ... I just want a picture to stick on the wall that says "Have you seen this person?"

Scans of my credit cards (front and back)? Probably wouldn't serve to buy me anything in the grocery store, but they have account numbers and bank phone numbers on them so you could easily report the originals were lost.