Thought on technology replacing jobs

[red92s]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I wonder if the self checkout option isn't a pre-cursor to the entire checkout process being conducted this way. I'm sure they are looking at the efficiency and cost savings as well as customer satisfaction of this. Will there be a day when only a few cashiers monitor several self check stations and that's it?

Not that far off actually. Wal-Mart is going to (or maybe already has to some degree) requiring RFID tags on all packaging. Not only does it offer some potential improvements on the distribution side (being able to track inventory without scanning it), but you will be able to simply walk a cart of goods through an invisible RFID field, and a computer will tally up what is in there. No barcode scanning involved.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by red92s

Not that far off actually. Wal-Mart is going to (or maybe already has to some degree) requiring RFID tags on all packaging. Not only does it offer some potential improvements on the distribution side (being able to track inventory without scanning it), but you will be able to simply walk a cart of goods through an invisible RFID field, and a computer will tally up what is in there. No barcode scanning involved.

Answers my Q? Thanks.

[zetta]

My theory on this is the tax code prevents people from wanting the low tech jobs more than technology makes it obsolete.

If someone had two choices:
work a manufacturing job for $12-$18/hour (24-36k per year) or work less hours at a lower paying job to have the tax code kick in EIC and other credits which require no work (and the more you work, the more you lose the benefit)... which one will most people take?

The one with less work. The overall pay in both cases becomes the same thing, the tax code took away their incentive to work (IMO).

I'm not sure I believe that the majority of the people receiving the EIC credit are that sophisticated financially. Do most of them really think, "I'll make the same amount of money each year by working for $7/hr and getting a big EIC refund each April as I will by working a $12/hr job."? And are the lesser paying jobs that much easier? I suspect it's more a case of lacking skills for the higher paying jobs, lacking social contacts to find the higher paying jobs, and needing time and flexibility to take care of children that can't be had in the higher paying jobs.

[Goldy1]

I do believe all or almost all stores will have automated check out. As the last generation to grow up without computers perishes, we will be all automated.
There are one or 2 people "watching over" about 6 or 8 self check outs at my local grocer.
I even ship my own packages online from home or use an automated kiosk at the post office. I actually like this. I am currently selling my cd collection on e bay and do no need daily post trips.

You can't hold back change, but I do believe it will mean less low skilled workers needed.

I just hope ALL shopping doe snot go online b/c I like to try on and use my senses for my purchases.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Goldy1

I do believe all or almost all stores will have automated check out.

I even ship my own packages online from home

I think some types of merchandise lend themselves to self-checkout better than others. At Home Depot, for example, if I'm buying packaged items, I'll go through self-checkout. If, however, I'm buying loose stuff like lumber, I'll go to a cashier. I'm sure they could streamline the process and tag the loose items better to make them more easily rung up at the self-checkout line but so far they haven't.

I love being able to print postage at home for my ebay and half.com sales. It is SO much easier than years ago when I used to have to go to the post office every day when I was selling on ebay regularly.

[MonkeyMama]

I work with a lot of older people, in accounting. They marvel how they thought computers would take their jobs. Now they just do 10 times the work. There is no way the tax code could be so complicated if it weren't for computers. Now the computers just help us keep up with the complexities.

There is actually a lot of outsourcing in my field (which I don't think most people realize). The problem for us is lack of qualified workers in the States. My boss much rather hire someone in his backyard, believe me. But the labor pool has not kept up with our work demands. We outsource to the mid-west and to India. (I mean this is a mom and pop shop! But we wouldn't have enough staff otherwise). The thing is you can get some more skilled labor for pennies. The low cost is a perk I guess, but it's a short-term solution to a big problem. These people are not hired for management positions. So for now we bridge the labor gap at the lower level and it just extends the gap at the higher level. (Since few people locally are getting the needed experience). But if not for outsourcing I would have an insane work load, that is for sure.

[Goldy1]

MY husband said at his last cad cam jobs his company sent some work to China (not due to lack of people here in MI to do the work but to pay less) He said the parts would come back flawed often and they would have to fix them way more often than in house so it's not a perfect system either.
They can't tak emy blood pressure from India, but I read something about surgery being performed once via a computer or camera off site.

A dr. I worked for hired a phone system to make appointment reminders to patients so staff woul dnot have to. This was a nice system.
He asked us if it would a good idea to set something up where patients could go online and make thier own appoitments with him since we tend to be on the phone with patients at times a few minutes making appointments.
This was opthalmologoy and I made SO many different kinds of apts, and there were so many insurance questions etc. I knew it would not work. IT never transpired, but at the the time it ticked me off a little thinking "well what good are we as support staff?" Should we just vacuum? WAit the maids from Mexico do that after hours."

[boosami]

Originally Posted by Goldy1

He asked us if it would a good idea to set something up where patients could go online and make thier own appoitments with him since we tend to be on the phone with patients at times a few minutes making appointments.

I had this online with my last HMO. It was very easy and convenient

[Phenomenal Woman]

Originally Posted by MonkeyMama

I work with a lot of older people, in accounting. They marvel how they thought computers would take their jobs. Now they just do 10 times the work. There is no way the tax code could be so complicated if it weren't for computers. Now the computers just help us keep up with the complexities.

There is actually a lot of outsourcing in my field (which I don't think most people realize). The problem for us is lack of qualified workers in the States. My boss much rather hire someone in his backyard, believe me. But the labor pool has not kept up with our work demands. We outsource to the mid-west and to India. (I mean this is a mom and pop shop! But we wouldn't have enough staff otherwise). The thing is you can get some more skilled labor for pennies. The low cost is a perk I guess, but it's a short-term solution to a big problem. These people are not hired for management positions. So for now we bridge the labor gap at the lower level and it just extends the gap at the higher level. (Since few people locally are getting the needed experience). But if not for outsourcing I would have an insane work load, that is for sure.

This is similar with what is going on in my line of work. I work in HR and the headcount of HR employees is significantly lower compared to previous years. I now have more roles in my positions with the technology making it possible (online transactions instead of paperwork and etc.). I also do notice that there are less management positions. When you manage a vendor or communicate with a outsource company, it does not count as being a manager because you are not managing direct employees and thus do not get a manager title/salary in this case. This has also been going on with the staffing team where most recruiters are contractors instead of direct employees.