What a card

[ewx]

[Poll #965137]

(I have two smart card readers on my desk, one is an unpackaged form of a newer design and is upside-down with respect to the packaged one. Consequently I have no idea which way up smartcards go any more at work, though I can still manage credit cards and so on.)

Comments

[gerald_duck]

One should get it the right way up after 1½ tries on average, 2 tries maximum.

But there are actually four possible ways to insert the card (either way up; either way round), no? In that case one would expect to get the correct orientation after 2½ tries on average, 4 tries maximum.

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

Yes, but contextually it's well known that the chip contacts go deeper into the, ah, slot.

MENTAL FLOSS. NOW.

[armb.livejournal.com]

Though if the card is contacts down, and you mistakenly think it's that way because you recently used it, you might plausibly put it in without turning it over and not see that the contacts aren't going in on your first try.
(On some cards the printed back design makes it obvious, but not all.)