Social Engineering
	The dark side of Information Technology. Computer systems with large personal information databases means that it is very easy for the government of the day to monitor the movements and activities of individuals. The 'cashless society' makes it even easier to track people by tracking everyday purchases.
	Information is power and whoever controls the vast personal databases available in this country must answer to the Data Protection Agency who ensure that this power is not abused. Since all purchases - food, clothes, rent, electricity etc. - are by computerised credit transfer using eye or hand prints (and not on plastic cards which can be forged) it is easy for a person's whole life to be controlled by the information held on him in a centralised computer. The correct use of Information Technology has given a better quality of life to most people but in some cases has led to the creation of an information elite and the reinforcement of privilege.

The Cashless Society
		The move away from coins and notes began about 100 years ago when they were replaced by plastic cards. These however could be forged and now personal identification with eye or hand prints is necessary. Everyone's hand/eye prints, credit worthiness and other personal details are held centrally. These central computers handle millions of accesses every minute as shops, businesses etc. use personal identification machines to carry out transactions. Electronic Funds transfer is the norm with instantaneous transfer of funds within computers.
	A side effect of this is the elimination of the 'black economy' but computer fraud is a problem. Evasion of income tax is no longer possible since all transactions are recorded inside computers. Banks find this preferable since cash is difficult and expensive to handle and EFT makes transactions more cost effective. Movement of individuals can easily be monitored as they move about the country since all transactions are on computer.

Jobs lost/gained
	Technological innovations have greatly changed the social, commercial and industrial scene. Many jobs have disappeared or altered while some new jobs have been created. Electronic publishing has seen the end of printers, newsagents and paper delivery boys but has created new publishing opportunities. Books, magazines etc. are created on wordprocessors and stored in main-frame computers for downloading into the home micro.
	These journals have moving pictures and voice output so reading skills are no longer essential. Heavy industry, where it exists for strategic reasons, is completely automated but most has been shifted out of Europe into countries like Brazil and Korea. Teachers are another group which has decreased in number with those remaining devising lessons for Interactive video discs for satellite broadcasting. Their is little employment for unskilled workers and where jobs exist part-time is the norm. Many jobs do exist in leisure and tourism while inventive skills in Information Technology is Britain's biggest earner.

Parliament
		Telecommunications has changed the representations of the people in government. Every house in the land has a digital voting machine which allows referenda to be held and the votes to be easily collected and the results calculated almost instantaneously. It took many years to achieve this because the role of MP's and the power they had was changed drastically.
	The main functions of MP's now are to debate vital issues in Parliament (which are broadcast) and to frame the questions for the referenda which are put to the people nearly every week. To revitalise job-hungry areas the executive branches of government were devolved throughout the country, mainly to Scotland and the North-East, while Westminster is now a tourist attraction with occasional visits by MP's.

Cities
	City centres used to be full of buildings called offices. With developments in information technology and electronic mail systems there is no longer any need for centralised office blocks. Staff can work from home thus eliminating commuting and the horrendous delays called 'traffic jams' which occurred twice daily.
	From the firms point of view there is no longer the expense of employing cleaners, receptionists, security staff and maintenance workers. A centralised computer co-ordinates staff activities thus leaving the firm more money to invest in high-tech. City centres are now residential areas with all leisure facilities close at hand.Travel between cities is via public transport. Since oil is scarce and petrol is not so readily available people no longer own their own motor car. Travel within cities is by electric vehicles which are supplied by the authorities. These are pollution free and are supplied by the authorities. They are picked up and left at various locations throughout the cities.

The Third World
		The dreadful famines which haunted our ancestors 100 years ago have all but disappeared although local difficulties still exist. Population control has had an effect but advances in Genetic engineering has allowed crops to be created which can be grown in very hostile conditions and with improved yields and nutritional value the problem of feeding third world populations is not so difficult. Bio-technology has helped to push back the deserts and to let locals be more self-sufficient. Third world countries had the advantage of not having obsolete machinery or outmoded working practices to replace so many have moved from an agricultural to a manufacturing economy.
	However although some technologies have helped improve education, medicine and industry, their use of information technology is not as great and it is unlikely that the third world will attain the affluence of the western economies since the gap is already too big between them. The arms race is still on and has used up much valuable resources of material, manpower and money. This has not allowed some of the more affluent countries to help the third world as much as some people had hoped.