-Caveat Lector- Taiwan Gets Smart Cards http://abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/DailyNews/nextfiles981207.html Under a new $300 million program recently announced by Taiwan's deputy minister for economic affairs, every adult will be given two smart cards: one for identification and one for transactions. Deputy Minister Chang Chang-pang made the announcement to the Asia Pacific Smart Card Association in a keynote address. The system will feature both contact and contactless cards, and will be used for ID, medical and social security benefits. It could be the first card to combine all health insurance information, including prescription coverage, on one piece of plastic. One can expect public transportation uses as well, similar to the Octopus system now in use in Hong Kong. "This initiative on the part of the Taiwan government paves the way for the introduction of intelligent smart card solutions in the private and public sectors not just in Taiwan, but across Asia and the rest of the world," APSCA GM Greg Pote noted last week in an IT Daily release. I think he may be right. The ASEAN market, less sensitive to privacy issues that plague the West, is perfect for large-scale smart card development. Once these apps prove themselves in Taiwan, expect to see them in the U.S. and Europe soon. Mark Anderson is the president of Technology Alliance Partners, which provides consulting to telecom and computing firms. Next Files, excerpted from Anderson's Strategic News Service? newsletter, appears every Monday. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
