Preface to the Third Edition
The English version of the Smart Card Handbook has now reached its third edition. In com-
parison with the previous edition, it has been considerably expanded and thoroughly updated
to represent the current state of the technology. In this book, we attempt to cover all aspects
of smart card technology, with the term ‘technology’ intentionally being understood in a very
broad sense.
As in previous editions, we have remained true to our motto, ‘better one sentence too many
than one word too few’. We have described this ever-expanding subject in as much detail as
possible. Even more examples, drawings and photographs have been added to make it easier
to understand complicated relationships. The glossary has been enlarged to include many new
terms covering all essential concepts related to smart cards, and it has been enhanced with
cross-references. In many cases, it can provide a quick introduction to a particular subject.
Altogether, these additions, extensions and improvements have resulted in a book that is more
than three times as large as the first edition.
Here we can make a small comparison. Modern smart card operating systems currently
comprise 120,000 lines of source code, which roughly corresponds to two books the size of
the present edition. Even if you are not familiar with programming, you can readily appreciate
how sophisticated these operating systems have become.
These small, colorful plastic cards with their semiconductor chips continue to spread from
their original countries, Germany and France, throughout the world. In the coming years, this
technology can be expected to outstrip all others, especially since it is still in its infancy and
there is no end or consolidation in sight.
Smart card technology progresses in leaps and bounds, and we attempt to keep pace by
publishing a new edition of the Smart Card Handbook every two to three years. The Smart
Card Handbook represents the present state of technical knowledge, and in areas that are
presently undergoing rapid change, we indicate possible paths of evolution. If certain things
come to be seen differently at a later date, we can only remark that no one knows what the
future will bring. Despite this, or perhaps just because of this, we welcome all comments,
suggestions and proposed improvements, so that this book can continue to cover the subject of
smart cards as completely as possible. Here we would like to explicitly thank the many attentive
and interested readers who have pointed out unclear or ambiguous passages and errors. Once
again, an errata list for this edition will be made available at www.wiley.co.uk/commstech/.
We would also like to thank our many friends and colleagues who have repeatedly offered
valuable (and occasionally somewhat uncomfortable) suggestions for making this book better