Abstract
Concerning an optical card and an optical card drive which writes information on the optical card and reads information recorded on the optical card, the topics of their technology through application are discussed to provide the whole idea of optical card systems. Firstly their development history, various kinds of optical cards, the principle of writing and reading, the structure of the optical card and the optical card drive and the features of optical card systems are provided. Secondly their applications, the present stage of the experiments and realization and a sample of optical systems in the retail field are introduced. and the trend in their future is discussed. Lastly the standardization of optical cards, the current task, is mentioned.
