Robotisation and Creativity

Foxconn, the company responsible for the manufacture of many Apple products (as well as Nintendo, HP and others) is looking to deploy over 1 million robots over the next 3 years to replace a large chunk of it's workforce.  We now have self serve checkouts in many supermarkets and stores.  Increasing online purchasing is removing the need for physical shop staff.  I'm sure you can find many more examples youself.  The fact is that technology is at a point now where it is replacing unskilled work like never before.  This actually has a huge impact on us creatively.

I will refer to this phenomenon as robotisation.  In the past we created machines that automated a lot of work.  It took away jobs but there were still many tasks for which a human was required.  We are nearing a point now where machines can not only take on those previously human only tasks but do them quicker, cheaper and better.  Like most things in this world it's not just a matter of saying "Hey this is putting people out of work.".  It will impact the world in many direct and indirect ways and I think there is a real opportunity here.

Yes robotisation is going to put a lot of people out of work, low skilled workers that will find it hard to get other work when that other work has similarly fallen to robotisation.  I agree it's not nice but it is inevitable.  You could say it will also create new jobs such as maintenance jobs.  I reckon though that the amount of those jobs created will be far far less than those displaced. 

But we also have benefits.  Among those are that products are becoming increasingly cheaper and experimenting with new products is becoming increasingly easier.  Especially when you take into account devices such as MakerBot.  As an example, I bought a basketball, not on special and of reasonable quality for $5 the other day.  India is trying to offer a tablet for $35 tablet computer.  Things in general are getting cheaper.

People can live a comfortable life for less and companies are increasing profits by reducing their workforce.

I really think that we should be taking this as an opportunity to get these people working for the betterment of society and the world.  Instead of them doing menial tasks,  let's empower them to get out there and be creative.

Technology was supposed to make life better for us all.  Instead it seems to be either putting us out of work or forcing us to work longer and more stressful hours.  It's time we change that.

I don't have an exact solution for how this should operate or be implemented (if you have ideas or opinions leave a comment below,  let's discuss it.) but I do strongly believe we should be putting more attention to it.

Many of these companies are hoarding wealth with the savings and this is leading to greed and corruption (Just look at the way SOPA/ PIPA is playing out as an example of that.).  This is not good for society and it is stifling to creativity.

We need to find ways to encourage companies to use that wealth in positive ways.  We can find ways to give all these people whose jobs have been displaced opportunities to be creative and provide real benefit to our society and the world.  I'm not saying that these companies should be forced to just give that money away, or that we should just give these people money to make art. 

What I am saying is that we can offer these people ways to become explorers and innovators or to help those that are.  Not of new lands but of new ideas.  There should also be a large amount of respect given to organisations that use their wealth to these ends.

For example, a company could employ a team of people to explore the city using different forms of public transport noting down what works and what doesn't and suggesting areas for improvement.  These people could wear shirts with the company logo on it so it is both helping society and brand advertising for the company. 

Or maybe we could create social teaching areas.  Areas where these people could offer to share skills on anything they liked with anyone else who would like to get involved.  All teaching would be free and companies would be encouraged to contribute equipment and furniture etc for the teaching areas.

A logo could be created for identifying business funded society betterment projects.  Any companies engaging in such projects would be able to use the logo to show their involvement.  Allowing the general public to know which companies are contributing.  The logo could be used in different colours too depending on what percentage of your net profit you put towards these efforts and the size of your organisation.

I know I haven't given the best proposals here for solutions.  The truth is I don't have the solutions.  What I really wanted to do was point out some observations and get the ball rolling.  Get some discussion happening.  If someone else can be inspired from this and is creative enough to concoct some good ideas and get them started then I would be most happy.

You're on your way to becoming a Highly Creative Person.