A Field Study of User Behavior and Perception in Smartcard Authentication

Published

September 9, 2011

Author(s)

Emile L. Morse, Celeste L. Paul, Aiping L. Zhang, Yee-Yin Choong, Mary F. Theofanos

Abstract

A field study of 24 participants over 10 weeks explored user behavior and perception in a smartcard authentication system. Ethnographic methods used to collect data included diaries, surveys, interviews, and field observations. We observed a number of issues users experienced while they integrated smartcards into their work processes, including forgetting smartcards in readers, forgetting to use smartcards to authenticate, and difficulty understanding digital signatures and encryption. The greatest perceived benefit was the use of an easy-to-remember PIN in replacement of complicated passwords. The greatest perceived drawback was the lack of smartcard-supported applications. Overall, most participants had a positive experience using smartcards for authentication. Perceptions were influenced by personal benefits experienced by participants rather than an increase in security.

Proceedings Title

Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2009

Volume

6949

Conference Dates

September 5-9, 2011

Conference Location

Lisbon

Conference Title

INTERACT 2011
13th IFIP TC13 Conference on Human-Computer

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Human factors, multi-factor authentication, security, smartcard

Citation

Morse, E. , Paul, C. , Zhang, A. , Choong, Y. and Theofanos, M. (2011), A Field Study of User Behavior and Perception in Smartcard Authentication, Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2009, Lisbon, -1 (Accessed October 15, 2025)