Personal identification card scanning tool and method of using the same

A method of optically scanning information provided on a personal identification card, the method comprising activating a camera provided on a portable computing device to optically scan the information provided on a personal identification card, the portable computing device being held and the identification card being at least partially held by a scanning tool comprising a first holding portion and a second holding portion, the first holding portion holding the portable computing device in a particular orientation, the second holding portion comprising at least one retaining member, the retaining member having a top edge, the second holding portion at least partially holding the personal identification card in an orientation, the first holding portion being structurally connected to the second holding portion by a connecting wall in a manner such that the portable computing device and the personal identification card are generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other in a manner such that the camera of the portable computing device is able to focus on the information provided on the personal identification card, the connecting wall comprising an opening that extends therethrough, the opening of the connecting wall having a bottom edge, the top edge of the retaining member and the bottom edge of the opening lying in a common plane, a portion of the personal identification card extends through the opening as the personal identification card is at least partially held by the second holding portion in the orientation in a manner such that said portion of the personal identification card is aligned with the plane.

A personal identification card scanning tool comprising a first holding portion and a second holding portion, the first holding portion being configured and adapted to hold a portable computing device in a particular orientation, the second holding portion being configured and adapted to at least partially hold a personal identification card in an orientation, the first holding portion being structurally connected to the second holding portion by a connecting wall in a manner such that the portable computing device and the personal identification card are generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other when the portable computing device is held by the first holding portion and the personal identification card is at least partially held by the second holding portion in the orientation, the first and second holding portions being located on opposite sides of the connecting wall, the scanning tool being configured and adapted such that a line-of-sight exists between at least a portion of the portable computing device and at least a portion of the personal identification card when the portable computing device is held by the first holding portion and the personal identification card is at least partially held by the second holding portion in the orientation, the connecting wall comprising an opening that extends therethrough, the opening being configured and adapted to permit a portion of the personal identification card to extend therethrough when the personal identification card is at least partially held by the second holding portion in the orientation.