A TASK force of Waterford Chamber of Commerce has announced a project to make the city a prototype "cashless society", where shoppers can tap into their home computer instead of visiting the local supermarket, fast-food outlet or video store.
A cross-section of the city's business community was introduced last week to the concept of WIREd (the Waterford Information Revolution for Everybody). This, they were told, is the future.
Obeying only the dreaded command: "Insert your smart card and enter your PIN number", the armchair consumer will be able to order up a staggering range of goods, services, advice and information.
In what might be regarded as an agoraphobic's dream come true, the need to go out and travel from place to place for different services should be cut to a minimum. The supermarket, in other words, will enter your sitting room.
It's all based on a technological extension of the Internet system and the facility known as video-conferencing. The electronic linking of multiple service facilities with consumers who desire them is only a matter of time, according to Mr Gerry Conheady, information technology manager with Waterford Crystal.
The business people viewed an American-made video demonstrating the Access Electronic Mall ("a private and secure environment . . . more satisfying and less stressful than shopping in a regular shopping mall").
The lucky consumer could, for example, access an exotic recipe on his or her screen, then "click" on to each ingredient in turn to purchase and have them delivered to the front door. Alternatively, they could video-conference "with anybody in the world".
The equipment demonstrated, Mr Conheady said, would have cost almost £100,000 five years ago; today it can be added to a personal computer for as little as £1,000.
By the millennium, it was predicted, Waterford will be WIREd so that the community can "communicate, work, learn and live as closer neighbours" through the use of city-wide computer and information networks.
So far, the task force has recruited two students at Waterford Institute of Technology to set up a prototype Waterford Web Site on the Internet, providing history, photographs, leisure information and links into other local websites.
The group has set a goal of raising £100,000 for the first year's operation, and is looking to European and Government funding, local businesses and industries, and global information companies. Cablelink has agreed to the use of the community channel on cable TV.
In time, the homemaker will be fascinated to hear, even the weekly shopping list may become obsolete. Every consumer purchases 70 per cent of the same items each week, the US video informed us. The computer-generated supermarket will note each customer's preferences, and tailor individually the shopping menu it puts up on your screen.