Making Virtual Education More Effective―the Use of Multi-application Smart Cards in Virtual Schools

摘要

The education system has been challenged to provide increased educational opportunities without increased budgets. Distance learning from virtual schools, incorporating emerging technologies and accumulating resources on net, turns out to be a solution for this challenge. Noticing the rapid development of smartcard technology and its usefulness in distance learning, the author proposes the model for a multi-application smart card. Its functions are described. Multi - application smartcards can be used for identification, payment, storing important information, etc.. But before it can be used worldwide, standardization of communication protocols and compatibility among products from different manufactures should first be guaranteed. Defining a reasonable architecture can help to approach these goals. In this paper, an architecture based on Javacard is suggested. By adopting relatively matured concepts and techniques, this architecture provides a common, secured and dynamic platform for all the smartcard applications in virtual schools.