The technology playing field is expanding and getting more complex for manufacturers and security dealers alike, especially for companies that are involved with smart cards – the technology around which most of the standards revolve.
“It used to be in this industry people made things [that were] exclusive to them,†says Debra Spitler, executive vice president, government and national ID, ASSA ABLOY Identification Technology Group, Irvine, Calif., and chair of the marketing committee for the Security Industry Association (SIA). “It was a marketing/selling point. And the consumer was OK with that. They are not OK with that anymore. Systems are more integrated. And the more integration you want, the more you need interoperable systems with standards.â€