SOSC 111 - Science Technology
and Society
Today: Lesson 22
Technology at Work
November 20, 1998
Dr. Vincent Duffy - IEEM
http://wwwieem.ust.hk/dfaculty/duffy/111
email: vduffy@ust.hk
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Q1. What are NC Tools? How do they change the workplace?
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Numerically controlled machines
shape metals using tape, and repeatable
programmed motions
 automatic program language
 expensive, however represents extension of
management control in the workplace
 contributes to centralization of authority
 deskilling -worker skill designed into the
machine

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How do they affect the workplace?
managerial authority embodied in the
technology
 unskilled workers become alienated from
the products they make

 many
workers may have
 little
knowledge of the production process
 little pride in their work
developed in pursuit of extreme efficiency
 can contribute to problems between labor
and management

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Illustration
Metropolis, 1927
 Fritz Lang
 most expensive film in Europe at the time
 Q.2. What does Fritz Lang illustrate in this
movie? What is he showing? How does
this related to your life in HK/China/UST?
 distinguishes between those who work with
their brains, living above everyone else
 controlling the city of Metropolis and those
who work with their hands

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The Future....

In your predictions/hopes
 technology

coming : toward a push button society
You also noted w/coming of cloning
 What
will the ordinary people do
 Will we have 7.8M guards and janitors with
 200k Bill Gates, Einsteins making programs that
allow us to push buttons?

What will be our purpose?
What will be our role?

…in the future
Illustrating your future role in the face
of increasing technology:

How do we make improvements?
 economic,

social, technological, personal
Our in class exercise for Monday
 Inspired
by incident in another class
 paper airplane
You will act as a team of consultants
 Improving a paper helicopter
 Problems:

 poor
flying time
 only experts can make it work
Next time - Monday
Bring your group members
 Please bring a watch to count/measure time
 Please be ready to work in groups at the
beginning of class
 Please arrive on time so as not to miss the intro.
for the in class exercise
