When computers first made their way into the business sector, everyone believed that they would make people's jobs easier. What was not expected was that computers would eliminate jobs. Besides contributing to unemployment, these automated workers often exhibit inadequate job performance.
A number of jobs have been lost as a direct result of new computer technology. Ticket agents in various transportation facilities, from subway/ underground stations to airports are virtually nonexistent these days. Bank tellers have been greatly reduced due to automated bank machines. In addition, many call centres that have help lines are almost entirely computerised. A few years ago I worked as a helper in our local library. Today this position does not exist, because six new computers have been installed. The number of positions lost to computers grows exponentially, and unemployment continues to get worse.
While a computer may easily achieve the main tasks of these jobs, most computers fall short when customers have a unique request or problem. A pre-paid ticket booth does not have insight about the entertainment district and cannot offer friendly directions to a tourist. Similarly, an automated bank machine cannot provide assistance and reassurance to a customer who has just had his credit card stolen. And, more often than not, automated telephone operators cannot answer the one question that we have, and we end up waiting on the line to speak with someone anyway. Every time I go into the library where I worked I notice elderly people who don't know how to use the computers and can't find anyone to help.
In the future, I believe a new business trend will evolve. As computers eliminate jobs, new positions will have to be invented. More and more people will go into business and hopefully put the personal touch back into the business. I believe that the human workforce will demonstrate that it is more valuable than computers.
When computers
first
made their way into the
business
sector, everyone believed that they would
make
people
's
jobs
easier. What was not
expected
was that computers would eliminate
jobs
.
Besides
contributing to unemployment, these
automated
workers
often
exhibit inadequate
job
performance.
A number of
jobs
have
been lost
as a direct result of
new
computer technology. Ticket agents in various transportation facilities, from subway/ underground stations to airports are
virtually
nonexistent these days. Bank tellers have been
greatly
reduced
due to
automated
bank machines.
In addition
,
many
call
centres
that have
help
lines are almost
entirely
computerised
. A few years ago I worked as a helper in our local library.
Today
this position does not exist,
because
six
new
computers have
been installed
. The number of positions lost to computers grows
exponentially
, and unemployment continues to
get
worse.
While a computer may
easily
achieve the main tasks of these
jobs
, most computers fall short when customers have a unique request or problem. A
pre-paid
ticket booth does not have insight about the entertainment district and cannot offer friendly directions to a tourist.
Similarly
, an
automated
bank machine cannot provide assistance and reassurance to a customer who has
just
had his credit card stolen. And, more
often
than not,
automated
telephone operators cannot answer the one question that we have, and we
end
up waiting on the line to speak with someone anyway. Every time I go into the library where I worked I notice elderly
people
who don't know how to
use
the computers and can't find anyone to
help
.
In the future, I believe a
new
business
trend will evolve. As computers eliminate
jobs
,
new
positions will
have to
be invented
. More and more
people
will go into
business
and
hopefully
put the personal touch back into the
business
. I believe that the human workforce will demonstrate that it is more valuable than computers.