Just a yea vote on Cory Doctorow. He's good enough to make me envious of his sharp-as-glass writing skills and his detail is rich but unobtrusive--I'm re-reading the PDF file now and it's just as good the second time around.
I'm not a luddite, if that's what you were after. I have no problem with improving the means of production, and frankly I don't think the force of argument will hold back the development of the technology, nor would I want it to. I'm simply asking for some thoughts on what it will do to labor. Worldwide. What happens when you can get your jeans from a printer in your pantry instead of from Guess? What kind of company does Guess become (okay, I know it's a brand in a family now, but just bear with me for the sake of argument--it could be widgets and the argument is still the same) after the need for warehousing and manufacturing of a product goes away? What happens to the jobs held by people at these facilities? Does the need for labor diminish significantly without any other meaningful and achievable economically significant activity to replace it? I'm not lassiez-faire enough to believe that the market will just find new uses in the service/information economy for those working in manufacturing and warehousing.
Again, I'm not advocating smashing 3D printers or stoning executives at comanies who make them. I just think it's worth thinking about the consequences of the ultimate effect of this technology once it has been fully developed; that way maybe some problems can be anticipated and corrected for before displaced workers really do take axes to 3D printers and burn feed lines.
Remember, this isn't just the US, so that 10% figure really doesn't make any difference unless you live here, and also that manufacturing isn't just a line of work, it's the whole means of production.
Damn and blast! I got here too late to throw out the Diamond Age reference!
Seriously, though, anyone have any ideas as to what widespread application and refinement of this technology would mean to the entire labor force? The economic impact of this could be devastating inside a mere 20 years without changing labor's basic place in economics. And if this technology becomes available to people in their homes the way microwave ovens have, we really are looking at creating a Feed system.
Main Entry: impertinent Pronunciation: (")im-'p&r-t&n-&nt, -'p&rt-n&nt Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin impertinent-, impertinens, from Latin in- + pertinent-, pertinens, present participle of pertinEre to pertain Date: 14th century 1 : not pertinent : IRRELEVANT 2 a : not restrained within due or proper bounds especially of propriety or good taste b : given to or characterized by insolent rudeness - impertinently adverb synonyms IMPERTINENT, OFFICIOUS, MEDDLESOME, INTRUSIVE, OBTRUSIVE mean given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others. IMPERTINENT implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice . OFFICIOUS implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying . MEDDLESOME stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs . INTRUSIVE implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs . OBTRUSIVE stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions .
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Just a yea vote on Cory Doctorow. He's good enough to make me envious of his sharp-as-glass writing skills and his detail is rich but unobtrusive--I'm re-reading the PDF file now and it's just as good the second time around.
I'm not a luddite, if that's what you were after. I have no problem with improving the means of production, and frankly I don't think the force of argument will hold back the development of the technology, nor would I want it to. I'm simply asking for some thoughts on what it will do to labor. Worldwide. What happens when you can get your jeans from a printer in your pantry instead of from Guess? What kind of company does Guess become (okay, I know it's a brand in a family now, but just bear with me for the sake of argument--it could be widgets and the argument is still the same) after the need for warehousing and manufacturing of a product goes away? What happens to the jobs held by people at these facilities? Does the need for labor diminish significantly without any other meaningful and achievable economically significant activity to replace it? I'm not lassiez-faire enough to believe that the market will just find new uses in the service/information economy for those working in manufacturing and warehousing. Again, I'm not advocating smashing 3D printers or stoning executives at comanies who make them. I just think it's worth thinking about the consequences of the ultimate effect of this technology once it has been fully developed; that way maybe some problems can be anticipated and corrected for before displaced workers really do take axes to 3D printers and burn feed lines. Remember, this isn't just the US, so that 10% figure really doesn't make any difference unless you live here, and also that manufacturing isn't just a line of work, it's the whole means of production.
Damn and blast! I got here too late to throw out the Diamond Age reference! Seriously, though, anyone have any ideas as to what widespread application and refinement of this technology would mean to the entire labor force? The economic impact of this could be devastating inside a mere 20 years without changing labor's basic place in economics. And if this technology becomes available to people in their homes the way microwave ovens have, we really are looking at creating a Feed system.
Just replace the "n" with an "m."
Main Entry: impertinent
Pronunciation: (")im-'p&r-t&n-&nt, -'p&rt-n&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin impertinent-, impertinens, from Latin in- + pertinent-, pertinens, present participle of pertinEre to pertain
Date: 14th century
1 : not pertinent : IRRELEVANT
2 a : not restrained within due or proper bounds especially of propriety or good taste b : given to or characterized by insolent rudeness
- impertinently adverb
synonyms IMPERTINENT, OFFICIOUS, MEDDLESOME, INTRUSIVE, OBTRUSIVE mean given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others. IMPERTINENT implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice . OFFICIOUS implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying . MEDDLESOME stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs . INTRUSIVE implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs . OBTRUSIVE stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions .