Smart Card Resource Page

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Smart Cards

A smart card is a device the size and shape of a credit card and contains an electronic chip allowing it to process as well as store information. The data can be secured with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) similar to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, and is not affected by electromagnetic energy. Smart cards can contain read-only memory (ROM), read/write memory, or a combination of both. A reader can access the chip either through direct physical contact with the chip, or via an inductive coupling technique. Durability of the card is determined by the plastic used for the card, and may be used in harsh environments with rugged card material.

These devices are most likely to be used for pre-paid financial transactions (e.g., vending machines, pay phones, rented cellular phones, public transit, etc.), personal information data base activities (e.g., medical history information), or as identification devices to be used for access to highly secure facilities or computer networks. Smart cards have become very popular in Europe and parts of Asia, and are beginning to become more widely embraced in the US.

More Information About Smart Cards
And Related Technologies

DOD Common Access Card Web Site

Department of Defense
Public Key Infrastructure
Program Management Office

On 22 January 2001, the Smart Card Industry Association (SCIA) and the Smart Card Forum (SCF) announced that their members had unanimously agreed to combine the two organizations to form the Smart Card Alliance. The Smart Card Alliance is the largest smart card oriented, non-profit entity in the world with over 225 member organizations, and serves as a single voice for the smart card industry in the United States.

SmartGov is a United States Federal Government website. This site was developed to show you the many ways the U.S. Federal Government is involved in the technologies of smart cards.

The latest information on what's happening in the world of smart cards can be found at Smart Card Central.

NIST PKI Program
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is taking a leadership role in the development of a Federal Public Key Infrastructure that supports digital signatures and other public key-enabled security services. NIST is coordinating with industry and technical groups developing PKI technology to foster interoperability of PKI products and projects. In support of digital signatures, NIST has worked with the Federal PKI Steering Committee to produce
digital signature guidance.

All About Smart Cards by GEMPLUS.

The PKI Forum is an international, not-for-profit, multi-vendor and end-user alliance whose purpose is to accelerate the adoption and use of Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) products and services. The PKI Forum advocates industry cooperation and market awareness to enable organizations to understand and exploit the value of PKI in their e-business applications.

The Public-Key Cryptography Standards are specifications produced by RSA Laboratories in cooperation with secure systems developers worldwide for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of public-key cryptography.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has numerous Working Groups. In the Security Area, the Public-Key Infrastructure (X.509) (PKIX) Working Group was established in the Fall of 1995 with the intent of developing Internet standards needed to support an X.509-based PKI.

Page By: Jim Weidner
Last Modified: July 2, 2001
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	DOD Common Access Card Web Site
	Department of Defense Public Key Infrastructure Program Management Office
	On 22 January 2001, the Smart Card Industry Association (SCIA) and the Smart Card Forum (SCF) announced that their members had unanimously agreed to combine the two organizations to form the Smart Card Alliance. The Smart Card Alliance is the largest smart card oriented, non-profit entity in the world with over 225 member organizations, and serves as a single voice for the smart card industry in the United States.
	SmartGov is a United States Federal Government website. This site was developed to show you the many ways the U.S. Federal Government is involved in the technologies of smart cards.
	The latest information on what's happening in the world of smart cards can be found at Smart Card Central.
	NIST PKI Program The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is taking a leadership role in the development of a Federal Public Key Infrastructure that supports digital signatures and other public key-enabled security services. NIST is coordinating with industry and technical groups developing PKI technology to foster interoperability of PKI products and projects. In support of digital signatures, NIST has worked with the Federal PKI Steering Committee to produce digital signature guidance.
	All About Smart Cards by GEMPLUS.
	The PKI Forum is an international, not-for-profit, multi-vendor and end-user alliance whose purpose is to accelerate the adoption and use of Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) products and services. The PKI Forum advocates industry cooperation and market awareness to enable organizations to understand and exploit the value of PKI in their e-business applications.
	The Public-Key Cryptography Standards are specifications produced by RSA Laboratories in cooperation with secure systems developers worldwide for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of public-key cryptography.
	The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has numerous Working Groups. In the Security Area, the Public-Key Infrastructure (X.509) (PKIX) Working Group was established in the Fall of 1995 with the intent of developing Internet standards needed to support an X.509-based PKI.