[Closed] VIDEO: This is kind of long but very interesting about computers.

I didn't come to the realization of this inevitability as early as did Paul T. However,...

... this is something I've pondered many times. I'm not trying to spur a political conversation, however politicians always talk about "bringing jobs" back from "WHEREVER!" For years I've said, "Bovine excrement!" That is because many jobs have not been replaced by a foreign worker, but by automation. And just as this video clearly pointed out, it's growing and those jobs aren't "coming back" because they've been eliminated by machine.

The receptionist position is gone now. How many times have you called a company and get a live person on the phone? It's rare and you're usually surprised when a live person does answer. What you usually get is a computer and the first question asked is to "listen carefully because the menu options have changed." I've noticed that many sit down restaurants now feature a computer kiosk located on the table so I can order food and pay my bill. When I go to the grocery store or Home Depot I can check out my selections without any aid from the clerk. These are all eliminating jobs that people were paid to do but no longer. This isn't a new paradigm either. Elimination of labor has been occurring since the beginning of humankind. The computer age has just accelerated the process.

I think you're 100% correct Marlowe and unfortunately greed is a driving force.

I flew through Chicago O'Hare last month

When I got to the United ticket counter to check my bag, I as directed to a self-serve kiosk. There I checked in, got my boarding pass and was issued luggage tags which I had to place on my bags. I then had to take my bag to a drop off area. Throughout the whole affair, the only person I spoke to was the nice lady who pointed me toward the kiosk.

There's a Wendy's pilot store near us that is trying out self-service ordering through a touch pad. You place your order, swipe your card then step to the counter where someone hands you your food.

If I go into a Panera, I can sit at my table, order via an app on my phone, pay via the phone and someone brings my food to the table.

The manager at my local bank told me they are gearing up for self-service and online banking with smaller offices and centralized vaults. He thinks they can function with 50% fewer staff.

VERY interesting thread. The video and subsequent posts describe a reality that we all recognize and take for granted, but don't fully process because we don't grasp the enormity and seriousness of it (or subconsciously refuse to do so). Unfortunately, the video doesn't suggest a solution. And that makes it not only thought-provoking, but disturbing as well.

I'm not sure there is a solution, Frank.

If we can recall, the promise of the computer age and robotics was that we would all ave this huge amount of leisure time on our hands. Computers and robots would free us up and make life easier. Few people thought about needing money to buy the electronics and robots, which requires work and productivity.

I'm convinced that, in time, things will adjust. Machines will continue to improve but humans will do the things that only they can do. Niches will be filled and adjustments made. Machines can do much, but not unless they are invented, programmed, maintained, improved upon and replaced by newer, better machines. Humans will govern, invent, design, create, etc...things only humans can do.

The hard part is always on the generation or two that undergo the change.

It has taken the "FORD" Computer 46 hours to finally find the problem with our 2002 Bird. A Mouse or a Rodent ate some insulation & turned on the Anti Lock Brake light plus the e-brake light. The Brakes work fine but ABS and Traction Control don't work. I/They have replaced the ABS Module(Bought at the wrecking Yard for $223.00 as Ford has discontinued it and the dealer wants $740.00 for their used -No Guarantee Module), taped a couple of wires then spent the next 20 or so hours finding it is now the two rear wheel speed sensors($8.00 each at the wrecking yard)& $189.00 for 2-new from Ford. I authorized $300 to $350 but now the bill is $650 at half shop time plus the new sensors to be here on Monday for another $389.00 so basically a Grand to fix a car with just barely 30K on the clock and it has never been in the rain cept the dealer who left it out two nights to find the water went into the plastic glove box filling it. I went to the dealer because they have a dedicated computer program for faults not just a Snap-On reader for a multiplicity of cars. Since animals can now have attorneys where do I go to sue that Rodent/Mouse or Rat? I know he has a Government supplied attorney. This is the last visit to Evergreen Ford of Issaquah, PERIOD!

Read this as the Machine was no better than the Human. This particular Human was last years winner of Ford's Mechanics/Technician contest for finding what the disability done by Ford to be fixed by the technician. So even machines can't handle the level we are at. Try ordering Iced Tea in a restaurant. I was told last evening they had just brewed and the tea was hot so they were "out" of Iced. I told her to bring me a glass of Ice and a glass of the warm/hot tea, which she did. You should have seen the look on her face when I poured the tea into the glass with Ice, it did melt about 1/2 of the Ice, but she was amazed. Remember these people will be running the country as we get older????? What the Hell are we going to do? They Vote too!