Smart Cards
Smart Cards basically use the same technology as RFID. A small computer chip called an “integrated circuit” (IC) is attached to a credit or loyalty card. Some chips require contact by an interrogator/readers and some can be read from six to 18 inches.
The onboard computer chip can be used for a variety of applications. They can “store” money similar to buying a gift card at a retail store. Smart Cards can be used in loyalty programs. For instance, whenever a consumer buys a sandwich at a local fast food outlet, the clerk can record the purchase on the user’s smart card. After a certain amount of purchase dollars have been accumulated, the user can get a free meal or some other prize.
Smart Cards can also be used to carry a person’s biometric ID information. This may help consumers become more at ease with biometrics. Instead of having your biometric ID enrollment information stored in a government database, you could store it on your own smart card. Then, when you wanted to make a purchase at a store—or even on the Internet—you could insert your smart card into a reader. Then you could allow a fingerprint ID reader to compare your fingerprint to the information on your smart card. This process would virtually assure that you, and only you, could use your credit card … which may actually be the same as the card that is carrying your biometric ID information.
Today, there are hundreds of millions of smart cards in the market, and many of the huge IC manufacturers are involved in major rollouts. Governments are using smart cards for social programs like food stamps, healthcare, etc. Financial institutions and credit card companies are pushing for smart card adoption. Someday, it is believed that we may become a cashless society and that all money will be stored on smart cards.
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Education: InsightU and The Center For Auto ID at Ohio University
Through a relationship with InsightU and The Center For Automatic Identification at Ohio University, SCAN/DCR is pleased to provide information that will help you define, design and use AIDC technology. Here you will finde-books, self-directedon line education and information about livetelephone conferences. |
