The invention of money is perhaps one of the greatest achievements of human civilization. Since the beginning of society, people have used money to circumvent the difficulties of bartering and to promote trade and commerce. Since then, money has come a long way. We no longer need to rely on silver coins, cocoa beans, or even anything of intrinsic value to conduct our business; today we use paper currency, which is convenient and easy to carry around. But slowly, we are entering the digital age of money, an era in which less money is actually tangible and more is just data on a server. For some, this prospect may seem daunting. However, given the key advantages of electronic money over its obsolete paper counterpart, society as a whole should embrace the upcoming era of digital money. Digital currency is undeniably convenient; anyone who has used a credit or debit card understands this. However, the era of digital currency is only just beginning; Rapid technological advances will continue to make paper money a remnant of the past. Numerous innovations are already lightening the burden on your wallet. For example, the seemingly harmless mobile phone actually plays an increasingly important role in facilitating monetary transactions, especially in Asia. Already in Japan, large companies such as Coca-Cola have approved vending machines that are not only compatible with common mobile phones but also allow consumers to earn credits for their use (Kupetz). In this regard, the United States is surprisingly behind other countries. Another new technology in the wake of cell phones is contactless cards. These innovative cards do not require a cashier to make a transaction; one simply holds a special... in the center of a sheet of paper... Kharif, Olga. "Online retailers: an early Christmas peak?". BusinessWeek Online (2009): 5. MASUltra - School edition. EBSCO. Network. February 16, 2010. Larkin, Erik. “Go virtual for safer online shopping.” PC World 27.11 (2009): 35. MAS Ultra-School Edition. EBSCO. Network. 16 February 2010.Mari, Angelica. “IT: Cashless Plans Need Retailer Consent.” IT (England) 9 April 2009: NewsBank. Network. February 16, 2010. Kevin, McCoy. “More donors are going online to donate.” USA Today nd: MAS Ultra - School Edition.EBSCO. Network. February 15, 2010. Menn, Giuseppe. “Police Shut Down Mariposa Hacker Network.” FT.com. The Financial Times Ltd, 3 March 2010. Web. 8 March 200900144feabdc0.html>Shelton, Judy. “Capitalism needs a solid monetary base.” Wall Street Journal February 12, 2009: p. A.13. SIRS researcher. Network. February 11 2010.