Robotics and Their Effect on Unemployment

So after listening to lecture this past Wednesday got me to thinking about how Robotics could be increasing our unemployment rate. For example in all manufacturing plants there are machines that accomplish a task that previously a human being would be fulfilling. And this was just the beginning, now there are remote control robotics that can be sent into a dangerous area to check out a situation that is unsafe for humans. Yes in this respect a robotic is good because it could be saving many human lives but what about in the manufacturing business where our friends and family could have been working?

In an article written by Marshall Brain entitled Robotic Nation he discusses the possibility of how robots will increase our unemployment. Take a look for more information about this topic on Marshall Brains website. Marshall talks about when he took his kids to McDonalds they ordered through a kiosk instead of ordering to a McDonald’s employee. The kiosk even went as far as accepting money from Marshall and his family. Marshall then describes many other occurrences that day in which he used an automated system and didn’t have interaction with another human. He mentions that while these kiosks are very convenient it is still taking one more job away from someone who needs and deserves it. Some of the examples he mentioned were; getting money from an ATM, buying gas at an automated pump, and using a self service check out line at the grocery.

Again we all love stuff that is convenient, it makes our lives easier but think of that Dad down the street that just lost his job, or that single mom who has to support her kids on her own. Is convenience worth taking jobs away from those who really need it? I guess it is up to our new technology world to decide…