CardTech/SecurTech '99 to Highlight New Practical Applications of Smart Cards and Biometric Technology in the U.S.

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 1999--

Smart cards and biometric technology have taken large parts of the world by storm, from Europe to Latin America to Asia.

And, although smart cards and biometrics have only just begun to establish a beachhead in the United States, they are now found in a wide range of practical, innovative and surprising applications that make life easier, safer and more enjoyable.

CardTech/SecurTech (CTST) '99, the world's largest conference and exhibition covering card and security technology, will focus on these practical applications of smart cards, biometrics and data encryption both in the U.S. and overseas. The event is being held at Chicago's McCormick South Convention Center, May 11-14. The show will feature a 1,000-booth exhibition and more than 200 presentations.

The practical applications to be presented are now being used for the first time in the United States across a wide range of diverse fields that include transportation, finance and business, higher education and government.

Transportation

-- Chicago O'Hare Airport's Cargo Handler Fingerprint System: Jim Sachay, assistant commissioner, Department of Aviation, will describe how the airport is tracking baggage handlers with fingerprint biometrics and smart cards to protect passenger safety and property.

-- Chicago Transit Authority's Contactless Smart Card Fare System: Joe Simonetti, general manager, Revenue Equipment Technology, will discuss the recently completed equipping of all CTA buses and rail stations to handle contactless smart cards for convenient and secure fare collection.

Finance and Business

-- Merrill Lynch's Smart Card Based Network Authentication System: Dean Mazboudi, vice president, Distributed Systems, will discuss Merrill Lynch's pilot application of smart cards using Microsoft's Smart Card for Windows(tm) operating system in securing its private client systems.

-- Compaq Computer Fingerprint PCs: Michael F. Angelo, Principal Member Technical Staff, will discuss the integration of fingerprint biometrics into the Compaq line of PCs and workstations for enterprise security.

-- Lee Auto Parts Smart Loyalty Card: Phill Porpora, president, will describe how small retailers can increase their sales and raise customer loyalty using a smart card loyalty program.

-- Super Wash Laundry Cards: Michael Cutter, president, will describe how a smart card implementation has enabled his company to grow nationwide by streamlining cash flow and providing convenience to customers.

Higher Education

-- Cleveland State University's Urban Campus Cards: Joanne Truitt, director of Contract Administration, will describe how Cleveland State University is integrating its smart campus card program with local, off-campus, retail and transit organizations.

-- Ohio's Statewide Rollout of Smart Cards for Food Stamps: Dave Schwarz, EBT program manager for the Ohio Department of Human Services, will discuss the final steps in issuing 400,000 smart cards to recipients and installing 12,000 terminals in 7,000 food retail stores.

-- Iowa State University's Integration of Campus ID Cards with Student Loans: Joan Thompson, treasurer, will describe this innovative partnership which makes federal student aid money available to students through their campus ID/debit card.

Government

-- U.S. Navy's Multi-Application Smart Card Program: Tony Cieri, director of the Navy Smart Card Program, will discuss the Navy's pilot program and implementation of a multi-application electronic cash card for all sailors at sea.

-- GSA's Governmentwide Smart Access Common ID Card: Larry Carnes, Electronic Commerce project manager, will discuss the implementation of smart ID cards at GSA and the plans to take the system governmentwide.

-- Illinois' Biometric Verification of Welfare Recipients: Barry Beckwith, chief, Bureau of Operations Support at the Illinois Department of Human Services, will describe the roll-out of fingerprint ID and matching capabilities to ensure that people do not enroll for benefits under different names.

These, plus dozens of other presentations of current and planned implementations throughout the world, form the heart of the CTST 99 seminar program "Gateway to Practical Innovation."

CTST, founded in 1991, is the world's most comprehensive conference and exhibition covering advanced smart card and security technology.

Purchased by Faulkner & Gray Inc., publisher of Card Technology, ID World and Smart Card Alert, CTST focuses on applications of card and related technology solutions for banking, the Internet, telecommunications, mass transit, security, retail, loyalty, government and health care.

Information about the organization, sponsors, program topics and exhibition can be found at www.ctst.com.