Investigating the social and economic effects of implementing the national smart card in Ardabil province

The present research was conducted with the aim to Investigating the social and economic effects of implementing the national smart card in Ardabil province. Theoretical framework of this research is based on theories of sociological realm of communications such as informational society of Herbert Shiler, information and urban change of Manuel Castels, and informational society of Daniel Bel. This research has been done by survey method using questionnaire and SWOT technique. The statistical universe in the survey part consisted of Ardebil citizens from among whom 386 individuals were selected as sample size, while in SWOT part the statistical universe consisted of the registration of personal status organization (general department in Ardebil and other branches in other cities of the province). Six departments who had started giving smart national cards were randomly selected from among twelve departments of the province and questionnaires were given to them. Fifty senior managers of that organization in Ardebil province attempted to identify the weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and strengths of national smart card plan in the province and the following results were obtained: the strengths consisted of the presence of a central organization dedicated to identity cases in the country, and location of personal information in the form of data base inside the card. Weaknesses consisted of lack of post code on the cards, and low quality of pictures on the cards. In the part of opportunities, the increase in social security resulted from the regulation of personal information, and creating necessary background for electronic government were remarkable. And finally in the part of threats, the possibility of misuse of the cards because of location of some cities of the province in the border regions, and In the second place, by taking another person's card and logging in to their user account, its possible that actions were taken against her, were identified as noteable cases.