The Information Card Ecosystem
This is the first in a series of white papers from the Information Card Foundation. This paper lays the foundation for the entire series by explaining the fundamental rationale for the Information Card metaphor for digital identity.
Abstract
The emergence of a long-awaited digital identity layer for the Internet means the evolution from an identity model based on one-dimensional cookies and passwords to a new model based on two-dimensional Information Cards. These user-authorized packages of identity data are controlled and managed by a new software tool called a selector. The card/selector model gives rise to a new identity ecosystem of card providing sites (identity providers) and accepting sites (relying parties). It also ushers in a new capability—cross-site context sensitivity—that will quickly become an essential feature of next-generation browsing. The paper concludes by looking at the next steps in the evolution of this ecosystem, particularly how it will integrate and adapt to multiple identity protocols.