Being in a situation where I have started to look for job, it feels a little bit scary the way Andrew McAfee talks about fewer jobs and an increasing gap between the number of jobs and the number of people in working age. He is probably right in what he says, but I haven´t seen this development yet. When I think about my friends and my former colleagues I can´t think of anyone that has been replaced at hers or his work by a droid. I would rather say that they work harder than ever. Maybe they aren´t representative for the whole population, since a lot of them work with people (teachers, nurses and so on). I have also a feeling that some of the systems (for instance: computer programs) that are supposed to make their work easier only takes a lot of their time, and it consumes time rather than save time for them.
I think Andrew McAfee is right in what he says about innovations. The fact that innovations is the driving force in economy, rather than capital, and that it might not be the people it used to be that comes up with the brightest new ideas.
He spoke about how more time will be available when fewer people work, time that can be used to fight powerty and environmental destruction. I hope he is right, but I'm not sure. Time will tell...
He spoke about how poorer societies can benefit from new technology, and that is great. It is important that new technology is spread globally so we don´t get a huge technology-gap between different parts of the world.
Finally I just need to say that we live in an exciting time, and nobody knows whats ahead of us...
Hello Gertruds!
SvaraRaderaI have now read your reflection and have to say I agree with some points you have raised in your diskution. I absolutely agree with you that it's very interesting time we live in right now and that it is difficult for anyone to see, after all, what the future will look like. development happens fast in the world, this makes it difficult to say how our jobs will look like in the future and if droids will take over most jobs man performs today.
Hi Gertrud!
SvaraRaderaIt is always difficult to predict what will happen in the future, especially when it is farther away than only the next two or three generations. But it is very important to start thinking about it yet so that we can react appropriate on what will happen. Maybe there are no changes in the working sector so far or we did not recognized them because they did not occurred in the sectors we are interested or working in. But it is evident that there will be a change, however it will look like. And we have to be forearmed to handle those changes.
I totally agree with you that there are many unnecessary and time-costing technologies, but I think this is more or less individual. For some people they are helpful and for some maybe not. I am thinking about a Smartphone for instance. My mom won’t be able to use one but to enough people they bring relief in communication and scheduling.
Hi Gertrud,
SvaraRaderaI enjoyed reading your reflection on the TED talks. I think you’re right when you say that jobs which involves working with people (such as teachers, nurses etc.) are not replaceable by droids yet, maybe some years down the line they too, can be replaced. I do think most computer programs makes work easier and faster than before they existed, makes files etc. easier to access for colleagues and so on. It cuts down on the manual labor, I think of the comparison between sending a letter in the mail, and sending an e-mail.
The “technology gap” between different parts of the world is inevitable to me, I don’t think it’s right but there’s not much to do about it. The wealthier parts of the world will always get the technology first, a big part of why is because they’re the ones who are developing it, pushing it forward. That said, they’re also developing technology to improve the lives of the poorer parts of the world.
And I very much agree, we live in an exiting time!