When the client visits a customer enrolled in the scheme he or she places their card on the reader and a utility contacts a web server database and receives a web page showing the client's photo and essential details. Additional security can be provided by checking a locally taken biometric reading against one held on the database.
Initial installations have been in schools where the readers are used to monitor attendance at classes. As each student enters a classroom they put their smart card into the reader, and a beep and green LED signify a good read. A central server requests each terminal to send its data, which is then stored in a SQL Server database. 140 terminals are polled and their data collected in about 90 seconds. Students earn points for class attendance, and truancy is more easily controlled.
The readers can be configured for use with MiFare cards, magnetic cards, bar code readers, external sensors, security systems and so on. They can operate in a stand alone mode, or with reference to a central controller.
DTA-SMART is a suite of applications which enable the use of smart cards to provide cashless payments within a controlled environment. DTA-SMART was used as the basis for the VISA Cash system used for the World Nordic Ski Championships in Trondheim during February and March 1997. Over 1.3 million Kroner was traded during the 10 days of the championships, and over 10% of the transactions in the arena were handled by the system, making a considerable impact on the length of time it took to process the coin transactions. VISA Cash terminals were placed in the Sponsor village (The Princesse Ragnhild Cruise Liner), in various shops and restaurants in Trondheim town, and in all the food and souvenir shops in the arena itself. Cards could be loaded and refunds made at various banks throughout the area.
Another implementation is the TusenFryd Amusement Park near Oslo which uses DTA-SMART to eliminate the use of cash by its own staff. Drinks Vending machines have been fitted with Smart Card readers so buying a bottle of cola involves inserting the Smart Card, choosing a drink, removing the Smart Card and taking the coke. Payments in the staff canteen are made using a smart card which also doubles as a security card and personal identifier. This cuts down the possibility of missing cash, since staff never have a reason to carry money when they are on the amusement park site.
DTA-SMART is based on PC technology. The back office system runs on any Windows system. It permits a cashier to
credit and debit an employee's card, and collect information on the transactions made with the card. Transaction
data is collected from the terminals, and by normal data collection means in the case of the cash registers.
The cash registers in Norway are connected to GEMPLUS GCR500 smart card readers which have been programmed to
use the Bank-Axept communications protocol. Any cash register which can use a swipe card reader to debit bank
cards can have a DTA-SMART card reader attached.