We have found that most card readers in the AV-TS 
      Black Wedge units are not capable of reading our standard "memory only" 
      voter smart card.  To allay any fears about our current production, 
      all Blue and White AV-TS units ever produced are fully capable of reading 
      all versions of the smart cards that we deliver.  And all desktop 
      smart card readers are capable of reading all versions of the smart cards 
      that we deliver.
       
      The reason for this incompatibility is due to the 
      Model of the smart card reader installed in the Black Wedge units.  
      The Black Wedge units were made with the original Model 171 smart 
      card reader (a.k.a. 171TDAI, 171T1DAI, 
      regardless of revision).  The Blue and White units are made with a 
      newer Model 171A smart card reader.  The Black Wedge 
      units can only read/write "microprocessor" type cards, they cannot 
      read/write "memory only" cards.  However, the newer Model 171A 
      readers (a.k.a. 171A, 171ATDAI 
      regardless of revision) can read/write to all types of cards we 
      deliver.  I have confirmation on this information from Axiohm 
      Corporation who manufactures these card readers.
       
      The four types of smart cards we have delivered 
      can be categorized by the shapes of their contact areas.  
      There are two microprocessor 
      types, the "L" shape and the "oval" shape.  There 
      are two "memory only" types, the "X" shape and the "Atmel" type.  
      Please see the attached JPEGS for a pictures of these contact 
      shapes.
       
      The only state we run Black Wedge units is in 
      Tennessee and then in three counties, Shelby, Bradley, and 
      Rutherford.  These accounts should only be using the "microprocessor" 
      type of card as voter cards.  These accounts have been using the 
      "microprocessor" type smart card all along because when they were sold the 
      units, that type of card was the only one available.  Most of their 
      smart cards will already be of the right type.  It has only been 
      recent shipments of smart cards to Shelby County that has brought this to 
      light.
       
      Fair warning:  If anybody does any Monday 
      morning quarterbacking on this one, I'll come looking for you to find out 
      why this information wasn't disseminated before.
       
      Ian