Smartcard
From ArticleWorld
A smart card is a small plastic card that contains an embedded chip and memory, which allows a user to purchase services and goods, access restricted records or areas, or use it for other purposes which access the personal data stored on the card. Smart cards can be considered as advanced versions of magnetic cards, which store much lesser information and are less secure.
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History
Smart cards are a relatively recent innovation. They were first patented in 1968 and were commercially launched in 1981. Smart cards were first used widely in telephone systems in France and Germany, and today, even patients have health records stored on smart cards.
Microchips were integrated in French debit cards in 1992. Smart card based SIMs were introduced in the 1990s.
Smart card types
Based on interface, there are two types of smart cards, namely, contact cards and contactless cards.
Contact smart cards
These cards must be swiped through a reader, which is used as a means of communication between the card and the central computer. Contact cards are less susceptible to misreading and being misaligned, although they wear out more quickly due to contact.
Contactless smart cards
A contactless smart card communicates with the card reader using RFID technology. The user is only required to hold the card in front of the reader, making this technology useful in places where it is difficult to stop, such as electronic toll booths along highways. The distance from which the card can be read by reader varies from an inch to about 20 inches. Examples of contactless smart cards include Malaysia’s touch ‘n go and Taipei’s EasyCard.
Contactless cards are more long-lasting than contact cards, but are more expensive.
Applications
Smart cards are being used worldwide for a number of purposes. The most common use is in telephone cards and as SIM cards in cellular phones. Smart cards are issued by banks as all-in-one cards, that is, as a replacement for debit cards, credit cards and ATM cards. Other uses of smart cards include healthcare, ticketing, tolling and identification purposes.
Future scope
With advancement in microprocessor technology, a single multi-application smart card will be able to store large amounts of data, enabling the holder to use it for multiple purposes such as a passport, driver’s license, social security, money, flight tickets, debit and credit cards, and so on. As far as applications of smart cards are concerned, the sky is the limit.