Electronic funds transfer (EFT) systems include a wide range of computer-based payment systems and sources that substitute electronic and digital transfers for movements of cash and paper checks. A few years ago some people were predict ing that EFT would replace paper money and coins entirely and that we would soon be a "checkless" and' 'cashless" society. Such sweeping changes have not occurred, but a slower evolution is clearly underway. Although checks, cur rency, and coin are likely to be here for many years to come, EFT is becoming an established part of our worldwide payment transfer system, and the implications and consequences of this technology are real. They include: • Alterations in personal finance and in the process of purchasing and paying for consumer goods and services. • Changes in the structure of financial and retail organizations and their mode of interaction in the marketplace. • Modifications in the flow of funds in our society and in the interactions among economic institutions. • Alterations in the prospects for invasion of personal privacy, perpetration of fraud and theft, and violation of antitrust regulations. • Changes in the regulatory and competitive balance among the numerous financial institutions in the United States. Such alterations foretell important impacts on people and society. Benefits are forthcoming, but the costs will also be real.

"Money," at least in its present form, may be on the verge of obsolescence. Rapid advances in computer technology are revolutionizing the American banking system. The credit boom and the proliferation of credit cards signal the advent of a cashless and checkless society. This exploratory treatise on payment media develops, within the framework of the historical evolution of exchange in general and of financial concepts and and institutions uniquely American, the far-reaching implications of a computerized monetary system for all sectors of the economy. The author introduces a theoretical model of a "moneyless" society and a hypothetical description of electronic funds transference as it might evolve within "real world" constraints. By virtue of its central position in the payment process and its cost-saving computer capabilities, the commercial bank of the future will logically extend its role in the financial community with multiple new services. Technical change will remain the most potent factor in this business environment. Aggressive bankers, implementing and actively marketing the latest developments, will occupy the vanguard of the movement.

Annotation Both theory and practice are blended together in order to learn how to build real operating systems that function within a distributed environment. An introduction to standard operating system topics is combined with newer topics such as security, microkernels and embedded systems. This book also provides an overview of operating system fundamentals. For programmers who want to refresh their basic skills and be brought up-to-date on those topics related to operating systems.