Information Age vs. Machine Age
Information Age vs. Machine Age
(OP)
The "Information Age" has been ushered into our culture and economy with much pomp and circumstance. So much value is placed on information and the transmission speed of that information. Entire facets of the economy are pegged to the advances of this technology.
In high school, my guidance counselors spent considerable effort in "educating" us on the benefits of careers in information technology, "knowledge" jobs, and data management. For the most part, those jobs have been good choices for those people who selected them.
During the most recent Iraq war, I often heard the conflict referred to as the "first war of the information age".
Most kids aren't too comfortable running an engine lathe these days, and even changing your own oil seems to be a major accomplishment for some folks. On the other hand, the Internet console is a common appliance in households today, and kids learn to dial the phone before they can talk.
Most society has long shifted from being agrarian based to otherwise, so the necessity of learning certain mechanical skills has been lessened.
My question(s) are to the forum:
Has the "Machine Age" indeed passed? Are mechanical solutions becoming less relevant? Will the pace of evolution and discovery in the machine sciences slow? Are we setting ourselves up for failure by deemphasizing the value of machinery in our society? Is the "Information Age" the next logical step beyond the "Machine Age"?
Any thoughts are appreciated. If you think this questions is just plain ridiculous, please note that too.
In high school, my guidance counselors spent considerable effort in "educating" us on the benefits of careers in information technology, "knowledge" jobs, and data management. For the most part, those jobs have been good choices for those people who selected them.
During the most recent Iraq war, I often heard the conflict referred to as the "first war of the information age".
Most kids aren't too comfortable running an engine lathe these days, and even changing your own oil seems to be a major accomplishment for some folks. On the other hand, the Internet console is a common appliance in households today, and kids learn to dial the phone before they can talk.
Most society has long shifted from being agrarian based to otherwise, so the necessity of learning certain mechanical skills has been lessened.
My question(s) are to the forum:
Has the "Machine Age" indeed passed? Are mechanical solutions becoming less relevant? Will the pace of evolution and discovery in the machine sciences slow? Are we setting ourselves up for failure by deemphasizing the value of machinery in our society? Is the "Information Age" the next logical step beyond the "Machine Age"?
Any thoughts are appreciated. If you think this questions is just plain ridiculous, please note that too.






RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
Therefore, there will always be large-scale production facilities and, hence, machines (PLC or computer controlled, of course).
Here in the US, though, I dunno. As everybody has observed in this and other threads, US mfg is in serious decline.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
Machines will always be here, as will space, as will bronze, as will stone.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
I don't see that this matters much outside the gray matter, though.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
The Industrial Arts/Sciences are pretty much dead in American Schools. I think I was one of the last groups to take drafting classes at my high school. Metalshop, woodshop, and crafts programs require too much capital and incur too much liability to sustain in our school systems. Kids aren't exposed to anything that can't be presented in text and Audio/Visual form or demonstrated on a ballfield.
I'm all for a grass roots revival in this country! Get those kids making birdhouses and kites! Buy them erector set kits and let them go nuts! When they get older, let them make nightstands on the jointer and turn saladbowls on the lathe! Then have Industrial Arts Fairs so they can show their handywork off. Teach them pride in what they make, not pride in their highest videogame scores.
I am not that old (still in my early 20's) and I had the benefit of all these things in school. Not for kids today. Everything got dumped and replaced with computers, internet routers, software, and sterile environments.
...all because some liberal arts yahoos trumpted the advent of the "Information Age".
How sad it is.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
To me, that's a shame.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
You sound older. I could have said all that, only not as well.
Does an "Age" really die. Although it's not worth much thought, The question still made me go back to my DeVore book and read about the start of technology, and the ages... oh the ages....
It's a fun thread, not at all stupid, thanks.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
What happens when those 'low production cost' countries mature and start handling information and finance to the same degree themselves.
What advantage does that leave the 'developed countries'?
Maybe we'll all be working for Chinese companies soon!
Lester Milton
NBC Group Ltd, Telford, Shropshire, UK
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
Wealth is derived from 3 basic activities: Mining, agriculture and manufacturing.
In these activities, labor transforms material into a more valuable product. Other activities, while they may be important, do not generate wealth. Service industries do not create wealth. They swap the wealth created by mining, agriculture and manufacturing. For example, lawyers, bankers, salesmen etc. do not directly create wealth.
This is why this country is in trouble. All the wealth-building activities are being closed here and moved to other countries.
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
What you say is true and I agree but it is not so simple as you suggest. What you missed is the fact that even when we move the wealth generating activities off shore, we gain a significant portion of the wealth generated because we provide the capital and therefore share in the larger profits that result from cheaper labor. This is a major driver in moving wealth building activities offshore. The stickler in this is, as the developing nations accumulate their own capital they will no longer need our investment and then when the capitalists here look for something to invest in we will no longer have the capability for wealth generation activities. When the rest of the world is as developed as we, we will be left holding the bag because the wealth building capability will be concentrated in the most recently developed countries. Perhaps our salvation will come from the fact that as a country develops its birth rate shrinks, ergo we will shrink out of existence some day. (tongue in cheek)
timelord
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age
RE: Information Age vs. Machine Age