If you compare today’s job market to the market 40 years ago, it will be clearly noted that many jobs that didn’t even exist at that time, do now. For example, Social media manager and App developer are jobs brought about by the dawn of advanced technology.
Not only have new jobs been created, but the old established jobs too have benefited. In the engineering field, the introduction of 3D printing has been a game changer, unlike before, engineers are able to easily print a 3 dimensional prototype using Computer Aided Designing software, saving time and improving accuracy as the models can be scaled to almost the exact specifications of the actual device. The textile industry has seen many new materials such as hydro phobic or water repelling materials, and camouflaged wet suits for surfers, in order to prevent shark attacks.
The innovation of ‘Virtual Reality’ has opened many new avenues as well. Unlike before, a student, studying to become a dentist Bondi Junction, can perform surgeries on a virtual platform which will make them feel less stressed and more prepared for their first patient. This technology also spreads across into piloting simulations, where the trainee will wear a VR headset, similar to the dentistry example and practice on different simulated flights to gain experience. The military is using this technology to train bomb disposal units as well.
These are some pros of the advancements of technology, but in the world of manufacturing, technology has become taboo for the factory workers. The US alone has lost 5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000, the year around which many new, high tech machinery was introduced. The working population seems to be the most affected by technology, but it doesn’t seem to be stopping the corporate world. Businessman always look for the best deal, one which will incur less costs and high returns, which is the case of employing machinery over people.
Many people believe technology to be a double edged sword, the way in which it is used for example, training a dentist using virtual reality, will determine its impact in the years to come. If it is allowed to expand exponentially in to every sector, it could do the same thing that it has done to factory workers and leave more than half the population redundant.
The world we live in will continue to develop, and it should do so, but as human beings we need to make sure that the human touch still triumphs amongst all the development taking place, after all a ship without a captain is bound to sink.