Technology And The Downfall Of The Workplace

By Author: Robert Deans
Total Articles: 246
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Technology and machinery have evolved in extraordinary proportions in the last hundred or so years, plus they are now partaking in almost every facet of how we live; from the way we connect, to the way we shop and even how we spend our free time.

You can be pushed to go far without encountering a way in which machine has supplanted man. From movie theatre ticket kiosks to supermarket tills, numerous tasks can now be performed without the need of a human worker. But is this automatically a good thing? What's going to afflict the human race if the need for us to work is diminished? Or is this an improbable prophecy which is unlikely to actually materialise?

The key reason machines are now so widely integrated into the working world is cost. Generally if the installation and operation of a machine is less expensive than the equivalent human would be to employ, it makes economical sense for a company to pick machine over man.

But is there a direct impact on our everyday life if we are confronted with a machine, rather than a human face? Regular interaction with other people is crucial. ...
... Getting greeted by a till assistant in the grocery store might appear insignificant, but these little connections perform an important part in maintaining a positive state of mind. These types of connections are even more crucial to certain people in society. For example, the elderly may benefit considerably from a pleasant conversation with a shop worker, since they may not have people with which to chat when at home. This minor connection between them and another individual is crucial for their well being. In addition, the use of today's technology is often a frightening task to our elders, and they can experience phenomenal frustration in the operation of machines like self service tills. Bearing this in mind, it is clear that modern-day machinery will never be suited to every individual, which means that a human employee will always have to be accessible to assist.

Machines are however, prevalent and thriving in other situations. SCADA, (standing for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a process monitoring system suitable for use in locations like factories and warehouses. SCADA implements a system of sensors to manage equipment and acquire data, which it then sends to a central computer system. It ensures that all equipment functions as smoothly and effectively as possible, and eliminates the possibility of human error. With regards to SCADA, it can be suggested that this is a crucial addition to a lot of workplaces. It might be regrettable that such systems might make formerly invaluable employees redundant, however in factory and warehouse locations, machinery is not affected by user complications. They are also able to significantly increase the safety in a workplace, bettering the working environment for other employees.

So how will society be affected if machines should evolve to such proportions that the necessity for a human workforce is almost eliminated? Work is a vital component of a functional and satisfying life, yet the majority of us don't value its importance to our lives. Work grants mankind a purpose. So as to live day after day, people need to believe they have a purpose. If technology were to eliminate the need for us to work, what then could become of the human race? The media is rife with prophetic examples of this type of situation. The recent family film 'Wall-e' portrayed the human race to be identically overweight, all employing a sophisticated flying chair as a means of travel and motion.Their lives held little, if any purpose, and they were happy to yield to the control of technology. Although this is an extreme scenario, the scary thing is the fact that there is no way we can determine what is actually conceivable, and what the future will bring.

Modern times have experienced machines evolving at speeds faster than man could ever hope to replicate, and there is no indication that this is halting. In some cases this is good for business, yet detrimental to the customer. But with the use of systems like SCADA, technological development is essentially a positive thing.

However, with all of this in mind, maybe we should allow the machines to evolve (as how are we to halt them?), and man ought to simply be cautious about how we evolve and adapt around the technology. After all, we still have the real power - there'll always be an ‘off’ switch.

This article was written by R. Deans on behalf of Lee-Dickens Ltd. Lee-Dickens Ltd are experts in the design and manufacture of process monitoring and control systems including SCADA. For more information on process monitoring systems and SCADA please visit lee-dickens.biz.