The Evolution of Smart Card Technology

What is the Smart Card?

The smart card typically looks very much like its predecessor, the magnetic stripe card.  But rather than the magnetic stripe it is embedded with a small computer chip, often visible.  It is still capable of storing information like the magnetic strip card.  But, and here is the main difference, the smart card’s computer chip can be programmed to perform tasks after the initial production.  Unlike its predecessor the data stored in the chip can be manipulated and changed, thereby creating a mini “computer card”, for lack of a better description.

The embedded chip can consist of a simple EPROM memory (e.g. telephone call-cards use this).  In more advanced forms it can also include an 8-bit microprocessor, ROM, EEPROM and RAM.  Sounds impressive, but simply this means that the on-board CPU can store, share and even process the held information in line with pre-programmed guidelines.  This "programmability" provides the flexibility required in order to allow the card to multi-task across a variety of applications.

Already there are various types of smart cards.  The types can be widely classified into two groups.  The first is contact cards that are to be inserted into a card reader or terminal with a direct connection to the conductive micro computer chip on the surface of the card.  The other main group is contact-free cards which only require close proximity to a reader.

Besides this broad type of classification, various categories of smart cards have been developed.  The list is vast and generally is more closely directed to a specific application.  From a technical perspective, however, they can generally be classified in their simplest forms as follows:

• Integrated Circuit Microprocessor Cards - This type of card allows for the adding, deleting, or manipulating of the information held in memory.  Essentially it equips a variety of applications with a dynamic reading and writing capability.  Most mobile SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) applications make use of this category of smart card.


• Integrated Circuit Memory Cards - This category of card can store data, but does not have the added processor on the card.  Processing occurs within the link to the associated software and hardware used to read the information.


• Optical Memory Cards - This card can also only store data, but has a relatively larger memory capacity than the IC memory cards mentioned above.