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Smart Card Handbook
Building on previous editions, this third edition of the Smart Card Handbook offers a completely updated overview of the state of the art in smart card technology. Everything you need to know about smart cards and their applications is covered! Fully revised, this handbook describes the advantages and disadvantages of smart cards when compared with other systems, such as optical cards and magnetic stripe cards and explains the basic technologies to the reader. This book also considers the actual status of appropriate European and international standards. Features New sections Revised and updated chapters “The book is filled with information that students, enthusiasts, managers, experts, developers, researchers and programmers will find useful. The book is well structured and provides a good account of smart card state-of-the-art technology… There is a lot of useful information in this book and as a practicing engineer I found it fascinating, and extremely useful.” Review of second edition in Measurement and Control. 'The standard has got a lot higher, if you work with smart cards then buy it! Highly recommended.’ Review of second edition in Journal of the Association of C and C++ Programmers . Visit the Smart Card Handbook online at www.wiley.co.uk/commstech/
1120 pages, Hardcover
First published January 16, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
April 28, 2020
(This review is for the 4th Ed.)
While standardization for smart cards has been picking up pace over the past decade, they had evolved in many flavours over the previous two decades which makes it very hard to get a comprehensive understanding of them. The physical interfaces for the large majority of smart cards are well documented and therefore easy to learn about, however, the programmatic capabilities, features, and security aspects are harder to get a clear view on if one aims to be reasonably comprehensive: there's simply too many variants, and documentation is not easy to come by for many. Rankl's handbook is an extraordinary compilation in the scope and depth, and in the clarity of presentation. I have rarely come across a book of this magnitude, and so beautifully written.
The fourth edition was published in 2008 (in German) and translated (by Effing) into English in 2010. Technology, standards, and the business of smart cards has evolved significantly since 2008, and while this fourth edition is still very useful for the perspective and the fundamental background, it is not enough to get current by a long shot. Hence my 3-star rating.
While standardization for smart cards has been picking up pace over the past decade, they had evolved in many flavours over the previous two decades which makes it very hard to get a comprehensive understanding of them. The physical interfaces for the large majority of smart cards are well documented and therefore easy to learn about, however, the programmatic capabilities, features, and security aspects are harder to get a clear view on if one aims to be reasonably comprehensive: there's simply too many variants, and documentation is not easy to come by for many. Rankl's handbook is an extraordinary compilation in the scope and depth, and in the clarity of presentation. I have rarely come across a book of this magnitude, and so beautifully written.
The fourth edition was published in 2008 (in German) and translated (by Effing) into English in 2010. Technology, standards, and the business of smart cards has evolved significantly since 2008, and while this fourth edition is still very useful for the perspective and the fundamental background, it is not enough to get current by a long shot. Hence my 3-star rating.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review