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In the next decade, "smart" cards equipped with microprocessor chips will likely replace the magnetic-strip cards currently used as debit, credit and ID cards.
Smart cards have been available in Europe since the early 1980s; the cards' versatility and resistance to illegal use have finally caught the eye of U.S. credit card companies.
What features do smart cards have that magnetic-strip cards don't? For one thing, you can download and store large amounts of information on smart cards, making them perfect for programs like frequent flier clubs. Also, the information on the chip is encrypted, and the chip itself is embedded into the plastic card, making fraud difficult.
