A personal identity verification card, or smartcard, 100 is provided comprising first and second sensors and processing means 105,106. In some embodiments the processing means is connected to a wireless communication means such as near field communication (NFC) 218. The first and second sensors receive power from the NFC means, apply a signal to the sensors and read, from the sensors, a user electrocardiograph signal (ECG). The user can then be authenticated using the ECG signal and the result conveyed by the NFC means. A method of authentication is also provided. The method comprises wirelessly coupling a first device and a second device, presenting a skin surface from which an ECG measurement can be taken, comparing the ECG measurement with an ECG measurement stored in the second device and sending an authentication signal to the first device. The second device receives power wirelessly from the first device, and the skin surface from which an ECG measurement is taken is presented to at least one sensor on the second device.
