even moving into the arena of the laundry room. Already in Bermuda, consumers will not need to scrounge around for quarters to do the weekly wash.

In the near future in the US, pay washing machines will run by use of "smart cards,'' which are shaped like credit cards but have microprocessor chips instead of metallic strips, and, as well, take the place of cash.

In Bermuda, it has already occurred, with the Quickie Lickie Laundromat converting its pay washers and dryers to card-operated machines earlier this month.

From credit cards to debit cards to smart cards, a cashless world is just around the corner. Gas stations, supermarkets and stores almost everywhere already accept plastic instead of paper (cash), and the trend will move into the home arena soon, as well. Even to the laundry room.

Mac-Gray Corp., a supplier of laundry services to the college, university and apartment market, has started converting some of its coin-operated machines to card-operated machines. By 2000, it said, it plans to have converted about 50,000 machines -- a substantial portion of its laundry machines in 23 Northeast, Midwest and Southeast states -- to a "smart card'' system.

Here's how it works. A smart card, purchased at the laundromat or from the apartment building's management, is programmed with a particular value, which can be replenished. The card is put into a reader, much like the opening in an ATM. The cost of the wash or dry is deducted from the value on the card, and the machine begins operating.

Smart cards can "store'' value, taking the place of actual currency for use when purchasing goods or services. The smart card can be reloaded with cash at designated machiens. At the Quickie Lickie, one machine accepts Bermuda dollars and the other US notes.

Smart cards, which originated in Europe, are beginning to become accepted as a means of payment in the United States. In Europe, they are a popular way to pay for telephone calls and feed parking meters.

In North America, however, smart cards are in their infancy. Schlumberger Danyl, a unit of Schlumberger Ltd., is supplying the cards, terminals, development tools and other systems for the Mac-Gray machines.

"In the United States, this is by far the largest installation in terms of the number of terminals used by consumers of smart cards,'' said Michael H.

Smith, general manager of Schlumberger Danyl.

He estimated there are about four million coin-operated washers and dryers in the US. Washing and drying machines are "one of the best uses of smart cards,'' Smith said. As in pay telephones or parking meters, "it simplifies life for the consumer''.