In searching for an article concerning technology creating inequalities, I came across an article entitled "E-Cash: The Future of Money." As the title suggests, the article gave insight that paper money will become virtually obsolete with online, electronic cash, and smart cards (on which money is loaded and can be used as a debit card for anything ranging from vending machines to store purchases) taking precedence. I found this to be really striking in the fact that, everyday, news articles highlight the fact that the digital divide is widening with computers becoming the means for the divide. Therefore, in accordance with my article, creating e-money would greatly increase the digital divide. Those who have no access or funds for computers, i-phones etc., and especially privacy in accessing to computers to manage his or her money will not at all be able to benefit from this act, maybe, to be more "green" or efficient. Why can't "cold hard cash" done the old way without this new e-technology, and even the use of credit cards, online banking etc.? Why does everything have to take a step in a direction away from efforts to close the digital divide? Is this a negligible argument? It may be convenient for some, but highly inefficient for others.
Here is the article link, my comments may make a bit more sense in reading this article:
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/ecash.aspx
I find it interesting that places are moving away from "cash." I went a gas station a couple weeks ago and the only option to pay for gas was to pay outside with a credit/debit card. It was only through luck that I had my debit card. On the other hand i was in my hometown over winter break and went to one of the little family restaurants. when i was ready to pay i put out my card and the lady informed me they only accepted cash. There is both a push for and against cash/plastic payment options.
ReplyDeleteThat is not really my point. What you pointed out is a far different league from handling money completely electronically, ridding of all physical paper money. As this article and many others suggest, the future of money is e-cash of which every being will withdraw and deposit money electronically by means of a smart card. This smart card is supposed to be so technologically advanced that a user would be able to point it at a vending machine and purchase a snack without physical money transfer. This would be any hacker's dream...hackers would work endlessly day and night wiping out electronic funds. Moreover, managing funds for those who do not have a computer would be very inefficient. Use of library computers does not guarantee confidentiality, and can be out of a person's way to go and use. Creating these smart cards where funds are managed electronically would create more of a digital divide than the world already gripes about. This is not to say that smart cards are the future, but the thought of this new technology seems sort of hypocritical.
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