But it also should include medical and pycho-social applications that need the same kind of security and privacy infrastructure. The question queue just became very active. This currency exchange web site idea is intriguing, but I'm not sure how it would work. Let me say a little bit about smart cards. Banks are willing to store money on the chip.
Some cards can hold more than one kind of currency.
The money would be transfered over the net in both directions back to me. Another way is that the web site might serve as a proxy for the transaction, and would allow a three party payment scheme. Having an intermediary would also serve as a way to maintain privacy and achieve escrow. Java on the smart card will speak a protocol called ISO7816-4. It handles coping with the smart card reader and device management.