Smart card aims to fight fraud

[Roland Perry]

In message <l03102801b8b52dcdbee3@[192.168.1.3]>, Ian Miller 
<Ian_Miller@singularis.ltd.uk> writes
>More likely the card has some form of antenna, probably a coil, that
>transmits the data to the card reader's read-head.  If so, it would not be
>necessary to swipe the card, merely place it in the reader.  It makes a lot
>of sense as a way of maintaining compatibility with reinstalled kit.  It
>probably also makes reading more reliable as it will be much more
>consistently clocked than a manual swipe.

And what about transactions where the machine "eats" the card - eg Cash 
Dispensers, Train Tickets, Carpark Payments etc. They need the card to 
be physically inserted in order to work - which will restrict the 
thickness, and runs the risk of accidentally pressing the keypad.

And I'm reminded of another feature of some of these machines - they 
remember you from the card number (and therefore assume the card number 
stays the same). Examples are the long term car park at Stansted, where 
inserting the same card on entry and exit obviates the requirement for a 
paper "ticket" [1], and the WAGN new ticket machines that allegedly [2] 
offer to sell you the 'same ticket a last time' if you first of all put 
your card in.

Neither of these remembering feats are *essential*, but I can just see 
someone inventing a business model were it suddenly is.

[1] I don't know what they do about credit cards that are mislaid in the 
interim.

[2] It's never worked for me - and they don't publish the "retention 
time".
-- 
Roland Perry