Monday, February 28, 2011

Smart Card History and Applications

What is a Smart Card, Introduction

Instead of filling your pocket with coins, imagine buying the newspaper using a card charged with "money". And this same card could be used to pay for a ride on public transportation. And after arriving at work, you could use that same card to open the security door, enter the office, and boot up your PC with your own personal configuration. In fact, everything you purchase, whether direct or via the Internet, would be made possible by the technology in this "magic" card. It may seem to be a dream, but the rapid advancements of semiconductor technologies make this type of card a reality. In some parts of the world, the "smart card" has already started to replace common cash, coins, and multiple cards. The two essential parts of the smart card system is the smart card and the card reader, which is used to exchange or transfer information.