A system, comprising: a card, including: a first surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; an integrated circuit; and contact pads on the second surface, the contact pads being electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the contact pads extending for a first length along a width of the card and extending for a first width along a length of the card, the contact pads having a footprint of a first area; and a card reader, including: a body, including: a base; and a press bar coupled to the base and physically contacting the first surface of the card; an aperture in the press bar, the aperture being a venting area having a second length approximately equal to or greater than the first length and a second width approximately equal to or greater than the first width, the aperture having a footprint of a second area that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area,; and card contacts coupled to and extending from the base, the card contacts contacting the contact pads, wherein the press bar prevents the card from flexing away from the card contacts and ensures that reliable electrical connection is made between the contact pads and the card contacts when the card is fully inserted into the card reader; characterised in that the aperture exposes a third area of the first surface that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area, the third area being opposite to the contact pads on the second surface and aligned with the first area. a card, including: a first surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; an integrated circuit; and contact pads on the second surface, the contact pads being electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the contact pads extending for a first length along a width of the card and extending for a first width along a length of the card, the contact pads having a footprint of a first area; and a first surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; an integrated circuit; and contact pads on the second surface, the contact pads being electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the contact pads extending for a first length along a width of the card and extending for a first width along a length of the card, the contact pads having a footprint of a first area; and a card reader, including: a body, including: a base; and a press bar coupled to the base and physically contacting the first surface of the card; an aperture in the press bar, the aperture being a venting area having a second length approximately equal to or greater than the first length and a second width approximately equal to or greater than the first width, the aperture having a footprint of a second area that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area,; and card contacts coupled to and extending from the base, the card contacts contacting the contact pads, wherein the press bar prevents the card from flexing away from the card contacts and ensures that reliable electrical connection is made between the contact pads and the card contacts when the card is fully inserted into the card reader; characterised in that the aperture exposes a third area of the first surface that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area, the third area being opposite to the contact pads on the second surface and aligned with the first area. a body, including: a base; and a press bar coupled to the base and physically contacting the first surface of the card; an aperture in the press bar, the aperture being a venting area having a second length approximately equal to or greater than the first length and a second width approximately equal to or greater than the first width, the aperture having a footprint of a second area that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area,; and a base; and a press bar coupled to the base and physically contacting the first surface of the card; an aperture in the press bar, the aperture being a venting area having a second length approximately equal to or greater than the first length and a second width approximately equal to or greater than the first width, the aperture having a footprint of a second area that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area,; and card contacts coupled to and extending from the base, the card contacts contacting the contact pads, wherein the press bar prevents the card from flexing away from the card contacts and ensures that reliable electrical connection is made between the contact pads and the card contacts when the card is fully inserted into the card reader; characterised in that the aperture exposes a third area of the first surface that is approximately equal to or greater than the first area, the third area being opposite to the contact pads on the second surface and aligned with the first area.