Smart Card Systems

Description:

A smart card system is a portable integrated circuit card used in data processing. Smart card systems receive input data, process them, and deliver them as an output. Data identification, authentication, and storage are the three main functions of a smart card system. In smart card systems, data storage and retrieval are done through encryption and decryption process. Advance planning is necessary prior to the design of smart card system to be a successful system without any problems. Graphical designs can be created initially from which the flow of information in the system can be planned. A user friendly, yet secure smart card system can ensure a clear processing for single and multiple applications. Credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, access cards, badges etc are varied forms of smart card applications.

Types:

The common types of multi function smart cards are listed below:

• Contact smart cards
• Contactless smart cards
• Combination cards

Advantages:

The main advantages of smart card systems are listed below:

• Smart card systems help in secure, standard, and effective business transactions
• Smart cards are compact, portable, tamper-proof, and hence advised for usage in personal identification tasks
• Contactless smart card technology is very popular among the transit agencies as it is efficient, has less operational costs, delivers fast and easily accessible.

Applications:

Some of the important applications of smart card systems are listed below:

• At international, national and regional levels, smart card systems are used for personal identification purposes
• Smart card systems are security systems used in banking and healthcare applications
• Mass payment and ticketing in banks, railways, etc is made easy with the help of smart cards
• Payment of fines, taxes, fees, etc are facilitated through smart card systems
• Transit agencies have implemented a newly developed AFC – automatic fare collection system , which use contactless smart card in issuing fare media