The greater storage capacity of smart cards is leading to applications beyond the capabilities of magnetic cards, storage and updating of personal records. Store gains detailed shopping statistics. Replaces medical insurance form, doctors to have computers to utilise cards. Along with Social Health Network, was launched in Brittany in May 1998, to cover all France by March 1999. It would not be long before motor manufacturers made cars that would not start unless one of a known set of license cards was inserted into a slot in the vehicle.
Smart cards can store digitised photographs and fingerprints or other biometric data.
Also machine scanning would make it more difficult for fugitives to slip through passport control unnoticed. National ID click on the link for a more detailed page on this topic. Contactless cards could be detected entering and leaving the vehicle, which would reduce fare evasion. London Transport will replace all ticketing on buses and underground with smart cards from 2001. Also the donor's preferences, next of kin details, etc. could be stored.