During the Industrial Revolution, new technologies radically changed the ways that people operated their jobs. Over the last 20 years, a similar revolution has taken place as machines became more sophisticated and automated.
Some labourers lament new technologies because they think that automation will steal their jobs and create even more unemployment. Others welcome machines because they want to boost worker productivity and improve how products function.
In truth, both sides have legitimate points to consider. A closer look shows a complex relationship between machines and manual labour.
How Machines Have Changed Over the Last 20 Years
Machines have improved dramatically over the last 20 years. The improvements have largely come from the ability to develop more advanced transistor technology. In 1965, Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel, predicted that his company could double the number of transistors in a chip every two years.
Moore’s prediction proved true until just a few years ago. Regardless, Intel and other companies were able to build components that made machines more efficient, predictable, and precise.
Just 20 years ago, the average person would have a hard time imagining that about 90% of the country’s population would own smartphones. Today, the chips that make smartphones possible also make machines more functional.