Abstract
M.Sc.
A Smart Card looks like a normal plastic card that we use every day, but its
capabilities and advantages are huge. Inside the card there is a small
microprocessor capable of doing operations on data. With memory available
on the card, data can be stored in a safe and secure location. This card can
be used for various applications and is a big improvement on all of its
predecessors. These applications can be anything from SIM cards in a cell
phone to credit cards and cards used for access control. The Smart Card
offers us better security and offline identification because of its own
embedded microprocessor. The combination of Smart Cards with biometrics
for security reasons will be a logical step and the ideal way to identify the
person as the true owner of the card. This dissertation will investigate the use
of contact Smart Cards in the University environment, more specifically as a
University student card. The Smart Card will be combined with a fingerprint to
enforce better security. The main purpose is to use the Smart Card and the
biometric property for access control at various places on campus.