Correct Option (b):
Statement 1 is correct. A smart card is a plastic card embedded with a microchip. This microchip allows it to store and process data securely, enabling various functions such as identification, authentication, and data storage for applications like payment cards, SIM cards, and access control systems.
Statement 2 is correct. Digital technology is extensively utilized in modern communication systems. It is primarily applied to new physical communication mediums such as satellite transmission, which relies on digital signals for global communication, and fibre optics, which transmits data as digital light pulses over optical cables, facilitating high-speed and high-bandwidth data transfer.
Incorrect Options:
Statement 3 is incorrect. A digital library is a collection of documents and resources in an organized electronic format. While these resources are frequently accessible via the internet, their availability is not exclusively confined to the internet. Digital libraries can also be accessed through local area networks (LANs), institutional intranets, or even offline storage media like CDs, DVDs, or dedicated servers. Therefore, the assertion that it is available "on the internet only" is inaccurate.
Options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect because Statement 3 is false, while Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Option (b) accurately identifies Statements 1 and 2 as the correct ones.