The Brave New World

[hardblue]

Some new books have come out on the impact of new technology on employment and human welfare. It turns out that the picture is darker than what people once thought it might be.

<<<<<<<<<<<<Read more... )

Comments

[cinnamontoast]

Good article. I'm afraid that our generation is bearing the worst end of automation. Without the skills of the younger folks and our growing lack of physical strength because of age, we will be lost. I see articles about Social Security and the amount of money needed for retirement and I cringe. But, mostly I hope that my years of smoking did the job and I will die years before needing assistance from a rather unforgiving American society. I do not plan on having treatments for any sort of cancer, no matter how painful. My only regret is all the books I will never read.

[hardblue]

Heh, you sound about as optimistic as I am. Though, it seems to me that you at least caught the Internet wave and have the skills that are needed, a real computer-jock, whereas I am still struggling on how to use my Kindle.

[cinnamontoast]

I may have caught on to computers fast, but that doesn't stop my brain from aging. I don't learn as fast as I used to or as well. Skills learned this year and obsolete next year - A person's value is only as good as the innovation they bring to the table today. A knowledge of recent history is not valued. I suspect it was never valued as much as I thought it was when I was young.

[pigshitpoet]

no. let's just create more crime..!

[hardblue]

That's why they will have Robocop. Face it, we're just screwed.

[pigshitpoet]

i just saw ex machina, what a mindfuck, and yet so close to what already exists, like the sequel to blade runner, they live or ten other sci-fi movies..

deus ex machina.. goddam machines. they are electric, so can they exist in the wild in nature or will they only function where they can recharge their batteries?

[hardblue]

Maybe they can get energy in other ways, such as solar. We have energy needs to, and with their superior intelligence, they should be able to answer their energy needs more successfully than we can. It would be easier for them to starve us than for us to cut off their power.

[maadmike]

It depends on the government's policy in Russia too much. Most of the Russians have so little money which can be spend only on a food and bills, most of the Russians are working to eat and they are to easily manageable because of it, with all possibilities for the big companies to pay twice more and for government to reduce twice the prices on food and fuel. So with that low salaries it is easy to make people to do what you like instead of to think about what's going on around and especially to work like any artist. Most of the people sit for twelve hours on stupid work with the four hours a day spent on the road to a work and at home after. There are many problems with beautifulness on the streets of Russian cities but not so much about election...

[hardblue]

I'm afraid all governments are deaf to the soul-draining lives and needs of workers and the lower-classes.