One hundred and thirteen million Americans have at least one bank-issued credit card. They give their owners automatic_1_in stores, restaurants, and hotels, at home, across the country, and even abroad, and they make many banking services_2_as well. More and more of those credit cards can be_3_automatically, making_4_possible to withdraw or_5_money in scattered locations, whether or not the local branch bank is open, For many of us the ;cashless societyt; is not_6_ it; s already here.

    _7_computers offer these conveniences to consumers, they have many_8_for sellers too. Electronic cash registers can do much more than simply_9_sales. They can keep a wide_10_of records, including who sold what, when and to whom. This information allows businessmen to_11_track of their list of goods_12_showing which items are being sold and how fast they are moving._13_to reorder or return goods to suppliers can then be made. At the same time these computers record which_14_are the busiest and which employees are the most efficient, allowing personnel and staffing assignments to be made_15_. And they also_16_preferred customers for promotional campaigns. Computers are relied on by manufacturers for_17_reasons. Computer-analyzed marketing reports can help to decide which products to emphasize now, which to develop for the future and which to drop. Computers keep track of goods in_18_, of raw materials_19_hand, and even of the production process itself.

    Numerous other commercial enterprises, from theaters to magazine publishers, from gas and electric_20_to milk processors, bring better and more efficient services to consumers through the use of computers.

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