Smart Card Applications

The smart card is one of the latest additions to the world of information technology. Similar in size to today's plastic payment card, the smart card has a microprocessor or memory chip embedded in it. The chip stores electronic data and programs that are protected by advanced security features. When coupled with a reader, the smart card has the processing power to serve many different applications. As an access-control device, smart cards make personal and business data available only to the appropriate users. Another application provides users with the ability to make a purchase or exchange value. Smart cards provide data portability, security and
convenience .

. Secure Access through Smart Card
. Smart Card Controller Door Access
. Coupon Loading
. Personalization of Cards
. Coupon Loading
. Attendance
. Library Management
. PKI
. Ebooks

Some of the potential benefits of smart cards are:

Using smart card is safer than carrying cash for an individual Smart cards can improve access to services for the disabled and elderly With bio metric profile held in the card of the owner it is a secure means of authenticating the identity of a user.

It is a portable and secure storage of information available on a need to know basis Access can be made available in locations where on-line communication is not possible.

The opportunity of fraud is reduced using smart cards Social disadvantaged groups can gain access to facilities and resources without feeling stigmatized Objective selection criteria can be upheld and the risk of bias or favoritism reduced Consider just one example. Smart card technology has the capability of addressing access, independence and equality of opportunity issues for the disabled through facilitating adaptive interfaces.

Individual requirements could be stored on the smart card so that the interface at the point of use would automatically adapt to the preferred customer verification method (for example hand geometry), input (for example voice activation facial profile and speech recognition), operation (for example reduced functionality) and output (for example large Colour specific characters).

Smart cards offer great potential benefits to society. Given its pervasive nature careful policy, design and implementation strategies must be in place.
With these one can envisage a time when the lack of ownership of a multi-functional smart card will result in a dramatic loss of opportunity and of help in times of need for the "non-citizen".

Smart cards are much more cost-effective in the long run as they cut down the cost of keeping paper records. They also reduce the time spent on updating the paper records and at many places they could replace the human intervention.

Smart cards open many opportunities in implementing innovative loyalty programs. In the fiercely competitive environment that we are in, getting new clients and retaining the existing client base can be a daunting task indeed.

 Unless one can increase the brand equity and show value to a client it is extremely difficult to motivate the client to be loyal.