The "real" challenge technology presents isn't that it replaces workers, but rather displaces them.
The robots perform tasks that humans previously performed. The fear is that they are replacing human jobs, eliminating work in distribution centers and elsewhere in the economy. It is not hard to imagine that technology might be a major factor causing persistent unemployment today and threatening “more to come.”
Surprisingly, the managers of distribution centers and supply chains see things rather differently: in surveys they report that they can’t hire enough workers, at least not enough workers who have the necessary skills to deal with new technology. “Supply chain” is the term for the systems used to move products from suppliers to customers. Warehouse robots are not the first technology taking over some of the tasks of supply chain workers, nor are they even seen as the most important technology affecting the industry today.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/scarce-skills-not-scarce-jobs/390789/
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 29 2015, @07:46PM
Think of it this way the robot does the work of 20 people and does it perfectly. But you still need 3 people for every 2 robots you buy. Half a person is an economics aberration. You either hire someone or you dont.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday April 29 2015, @08:13PM
Think of it this way the robot does the work of 20 people and does it perfectly. But you still need 3 people for every 2 robots you buy. Half a person is an economics aberration. You either hire someone or you dont.
That is not what is being talked about in this context. Read TFA, or at least read the full quote to which you replied.
The TFA clearly posed the situation of replacing robots.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.