Smart card technology finds popular applications in security and access control, financial transactions, medical records, loyalty programs, toll and vending collection, enterprise or single-user network sign-on and more that require secure information exchanges. Contact smart cards have a contact, or chip area with several contact pads that, when inserted into a Manhattan Smart Card Reader, can authenticate the user and safely transfer information between the card and the host computer.Smart cards are utilized extensively in Europe and Asia, and the use of smart cards is growing in North and South America. They replace less secure and less reliable barcode ID and magnetic stripe cards to provide flexible and standard transactions and strong, tamper-resistant authentication with minimal human intervention.Ideal for desktop and notebook computers without built-in readers, the Manhattan Smart Card Reader is easily installed using any USB port and the included software and driver CD. Plug and play with Windows and Mac compatibility, it requires no external power supply or cables – just a simple USB connection.