Does information technology destroy or create jobs? Debate heats up

Smart Planet ^ | October 31, 2011 | Joe McKendrick

[Drill Thrawl]

If we were all subsistence level farmers, there would be almost no unemployment

That's what the enviro sucm want. After killing off a few billion first.

[jocon307]

LOL! I’m pretty sure the abacus would be beyond me!

[grey_whiskers]

If you *really* want to save humans effort, forget about artificial intelligence.

We need artificial stupidity!

Cheers!

[Drill Thrawl]

luddites are revolting.

Yeah and they stink too.

[Lexinom]

I'll read the article, but that looks like an absolutely horrible place to work. No individuality, no creativity... no privacy. No wonder these big firms want to hire certified, servile lambs only, those bearing the imprimatur of the Bismarck System of Education.

No thanks... I'll take Edison and individual initiative.

Now, to read the article! :-)

[gitmo]

Problem, it's eliminated the dumb from the workforce...and the dumb gotta eat too.

Are you serious? You don't have to be able to punch the price of a Big Mac into the register, simply press the key with the picture of a Big Mac.

You don't have to add the items, multiply by the local tax rate, then subtract from the amount the customer gives you. You punch the pictures, press the key with the dollar amount the customer gives, and it tells you how much change to give. In some cases it dispenses the change for you in case you can't recognize the coins' values.

The equipment tells you when the fries are cooked(again, with pictures to clue you in).

I think technology is making the workplace available to the ignorant.

[Lazamataz]

It's busier now than at any time in the last 30 years as far as I can tell.

Agreed. In the middle of this economic collapse, I cannot beat back the phone calls and emails bidding for my attention.

[Lexinom]

"Eliminated the dumb from the workforce."

Ergo, those performing repetitive, brainless functions.

120IQ is the new 100IQ.

People need to use their brains, to, in the words of my grandfather, the inventor of many things, to "find a need and fill it."

The days of the Warcraft "What is it?" peasant are drawing to a close.

What, though, of the dumb, of those whose only capacity is to change sheets, stamp metal with a repetitive pattern, or what have you?

I'm torn between the need to evolve as a society to keep ahead of China and others, and showing mercy to the poor - the poor in intellect, in this case.

At the risk of being flamed here, I do not want to see the plantation owners, the so-called "1%" get even more. These do-nothints seldom lift a finger relying instead on the labors of de facto if not de jure slaves for their wealth.

Your thoughts?

[Fred]

It does both creates and destroys jobs, and the jobs it creates requiring new skills.

[cynwoody]

...and creates tedious software writing chores.

When a software chore becomes tedious, that's simply another opportunity to automate!

[Beaten Valve]

I cannot beat back the phone calls and emails bidding for my attention.

I give people a pseudo-name to use so their call gets through to me. Otherwise, I'd never get any work done.

[dfwgator]

Damn that Jethro Tull and his improved seed drill!

And winning that Grammy for Best Heavy Metal Album. ;)

[dfwgator]

luddites are revolting.

You're telling me, they stink on ice.

[cynwoody]

If we were all subsistence level farmers, there would be almost no unemployment.

Just sayin'

And, by definition, we'd all be dirt poor.

Much better to live a rich lifestyle, supported by global capitalism, while tolerating unemployment for the lazy and the stupid as well as the inevitable income inequality that a capitalist, market-driven meritocracy necessarily creates.

[Lazamataz]

Good idea.

[cynwoody]

Technology eliminates/ makes the tedious chores easier and faster, freeing folks up to THINK.

Thomas J. Watson, Sr.

[Lexinom]

Got light?

[denydenydeny]

If we were all subsistence level farmers, there would be almost no unemployment. Just sayin'

Yup. And ancient Egypt, when they were building the pyramids by hand, was a "full employment economy."

[ShadowAce]

[Karliner]

Hmmm if we HAD factories back in America and a more corporate friendly tax plan well yesm, I'd say there would create more jobs, heck I used to work at a couple computer companies in the late 70's early 80's and people were so happy just to get factory line jobs in a county that had dumped their canneries and strved for jobs( Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley)

I haven't read the whole article but that "if' in my first paragraph is one big IF! Hoewver if things continue the way they are, there will be fewer jobs, and it sure would be nice to get our kids back into horticulture, agriculture, creating desalination plants so big cities like LA can sustain themselves, learn from Israel. BIG oil pipelines and no more moratoriums and BIGGER corporations and maybe create and explosive factory with cute lil IED's in Dearborn( okay maybe not a good idea) Don't know about any of you but working on a computer these days seemingly takes more time( designing home with Cad ) seems to be slower than vellum and an eraser. Okay now I'll READ the article and see how far off I am in replying..hey it's 0355 here, a break please, ugh insomnia!