Banking, e-Commerce:
One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the presence of
electronic commerce and banking facilities, thus enabling entire
communities outside the formal economy a further step in their economic
integration.
Financial Smart Cards are rapidly increasing their use; and yet they
have been thought of as an instrument only for the sophisticated
consumer. This Center has the capability of empowering users in the most
advanced of financial services, while keeping costs down. ATM’s in the
Center would not be of the type normally used in urban centers of the
world, but rather would be the very affordable configuration already
tested in Central America. This ATM accumulates all financial
inter-account transactions during the day, and relays them all in a
consolidated fashion in one communication with the financial
institution.
The Center will also enable the community to participate as equals in
the global economy. The network of Town Centers will seek to provide
employment in `back room’ business services such as clerical work,
typing, transcription, and document quality control. Following the
example of other peoples in remote and sparsely populated regions, the
network of Centers will seek to bring in work via the Center’s digital
communication channels, providing globally competitive services because
of lower capital and overhead costs.
