THE FUTURE OF MONEY Bernard A. Lietaer - library.uniteddiversity ...

1980s: Generalisation of fidelity cards and product bar-codes,
introduction in France of smart cards for payments purposes.
1992: Amex embarks on an alliance strategy for the 'frequent
traveller' market, making membership miles convertible into
'Connect Plus' and vice versa, starting the trend of broadening the
purpose of private currencies.
1994: The first Positive ID chips surgically implanted in the necks of
dogs are successfully marketed in Silicon Valley.
1995: Total outstanding 'narrow purpose' corporate scrip tops $30
billion in value for the first time; 30 million rechargeable smart cards
for payments in circulation in France: 88 million smart cards issued in
Germany for national health record management; in Finland the
central bank issues a combined payment, social security and health
management smart card.
1996: Joint venture between Microsoft and Barclays to design
electronic money systems. Merger of CNN and Time-Wamer creating
the largest 'content' empire. Introduction of Internet stations in public
places in the UK. Implementation of the new World Trade
Organisation (WTO) Treaty, dismantling most remaining national
barriers to international trade. Sensar, a pioneering biometric
company, signs contracts with NCR and OKI Electric industry for iris
scanning devices in Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs).
1997: The first Britons get internet access via home TV sets.
Biometric iris scanners operational in Japan and London. A pilot
project between US and Bermudan Immigration authorities uses
automatic hand-reading devices to expedite the processing of
frequent travellers. Mircrosoft introduces Virtual Wallet in its
Internet Explorer 4.0. Worldcom merges with MCI, the largest