SmartCards Expo 2009, the 11th International Conference and Exhibition of Smart Card Technology and Applications, was held from September 10-12, 2009 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. SmartCards Expo 2009 provided a very effective forum for smart card vendors, system integrators, professionals, technocrats, academia and most importantly, government and private user agencies. The expo had nearly 180 exhibitors from about 30 countries, who displayed a wide range of smart card, RFID, biometrics, security and e-payment products, solutions and applications. Launched in 1999, the SmartCards Expo has spearheaded the smart card revolution in India and has taken up the causes of emerging technologies like RFID, biometrics, e-security and e-payment systems by creating awareness about these technologies and applications in the country. Smart card applications, in conjunction with mobile communications, biometrics, RFID, e-security and e-payments are fast penetrating in a variety of socio-economic spheres.  Inside smartcards Organised by Electronics Today, India’s first techno-economic electronics monthly journal, and sponsored by the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, SmartCards Expo celebrated its 11th anniversary in 2009.
Concurrently with the exhibition, there was a technical workshop,‘NFC, Contactless & RFID Technologies and Applications — the Indian Perspective’, on September 9, 2009, with an experienced faculty from NXP Semiconductors,Nokia,Venyon APAC, STJ Electronics, and Infotek Software and Systems. The technical workshop aimed at updating the skills of technical personnel working in the industry, of various organisations implementing projects based on smart card technology, RFID, biometrics, e-security, e-payments and related technologies, as well as those seeking jobs in these areas. Moreover, this year, the Expo has gained more prominence with the recent formation of the Unique ID Authority of India (UIDAI) by the Government of India. The UIDAI, under the aegis of the Planning Commission, is aiming to provide a unique identity number to all the Indian citizens and to all Delhites within the next three years, according to its Chairman, Nandan Nilekani. Taking advantage A two-day international conference on the spin-offs of unique and national ID for smart card, RFID, biometrics and e-security stakeholders saw about 45 experts from all over the world analysing the optimum solution for the government’s initiative of providing unique ID to all citizens. The exhibitors displayed a wide range of solutions and applications related to the unique ID initiative.
This initiative could have multiple benefits for users. First and foremost, it would obviate the need for produce multiple documentary proofs of identity and end the needless harassment that people face while issuing passports, driving licences and voter ID cards. Backed by the intensive use of technology, it would greatly facilitate easy verification of a person’s identity and enable a single communication to trigger address changes in all relevant records. The UID would enable the government to ensure that benefits under various welfare programmes reach the intended beneficiaries, prevent cornering of benefits by a few people and minimise frauds. It would enable financial institutions to exchange information regarding defaulters and encourage responsible borrower behaviour. Most importantly, the UID is fundamentally being prepared to identify Indian citizens so that better security can be provided by identifying illegal immigrants and terrorists. |
