Quote:
Originally Posted by Rochard
I am not sure how old you are, but they said this thirty years ago when I was first taking computer classes... This was back in the day of Lotus 1-2-3. They told us that the future workplace would be automated, and computers would do our jobs. This happened to a degree, but a the same time this created new jobs. Computers made our work easier and made us all more efficient, but in order to have this we have to have people design the computers, build the computers, code the software, teach us how to use it, and then an IT department to keep it all up and running.
Sure, eventually we will have burgers and food created on location by a robot. But we will need someone to design these robots, build them, program them, and the maintain them, etc. Less and less people will work in industry service jobs, and more people will work in technology jobs. At the same time people will be willing to pay more to have food prepared by a person, and to be served by a person.
|
I get what you are saying but some things are different now. I am in my mid 40's and when I was in high school they talked about how computers were going to take everyone's jobs. The difference between now and then is that the technology is now here or nearly here to actually do that. When I was a kid there were no cell phones, internet, shit we didn't even have cable TV. Now we have self-driving cars and robots that can make hamburgers.
I understand that people have always adapted and I think many of us will again. What I wonder about is what the breaking point is. Where do technology limits and automation collide? What I mean by that is: at what point does automation take away a lot of jobs, but technological advances don't replace them? I think in the not too far off future we may be in a situation where there simply are no longer enough jobs for everyone who wants one because of technology. What we do then will determine our future. Do we work hard to try to keep people involved in society, educating them and hoping they can make a contribution or do we end up with a big segment of the population that has no jobs, there are no jobs for them, and they live in squaller like a caste class?