"The 1981 book School, Work and Play (World of Tomorrow) features this beautiful two-page spread. Apparently, thanks to computers, there's no crime in the future outside of the computerized variety. The "computer criminal" pictured really doesn't appear to be running very fast. Maybe they're playing a game of freeze-tag. Or maybe that policeman's gun has special settings the author didn't tell us about. I like to believe the former, but that's just me."
The book is full of really cool images like that one of "The Future" as seen from '81
> Computers will make the world of tomorrow a much safe place. They will do away with cash, so that you need no longer fear being attacked for your money.
The growing use of Debit and Credit Cards eliminating the need to carry a hundred or so with you at all times for spending/errand purposes without requiring the merchant to take the risk of taking personal cheques was a huge revolution made possible by mass computerisation in the finance industry. This includes the current discussions many governments are currently having about simply not issuing cash money any longer.
Cash money still has its uses. I always carry some for tips and for when a business's payment card reader goes down and nobody knows how to process a card without it.
Since the pandemic especially, a number of businesses don't take cash, only cards, particularly some small breweries and independent fast food places in our area (Silicon Valley). I guess if the card readers all go down they are out of business until they fix it.
I was paying for services rendered at the optician, and luckily had a wad of cash, but what's the user story there other than wait while they call support? I guess they could have invoiced me.
Yeah it's an interesting thought. Credit card scams, phishing, etc. have made new ways of stealing possible.
It's 'safer' as in I think you can claim muggings or burglaries (or losses to these) have reduced because people just don't carry as much cash anymore.
