Re: Apprenticeship for our Future
- From: "Tom Gardner" <tom(nospam)@ohiobrush.com>
- Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:26:53 GMT
"carl mciver" <cmciver@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Tom Gardner" <tom(nospam)@ohiobrush.com> wrote in message
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| <snip>
|
| I disagree. Trades and crafts are disappearing for a reason;
technology.
| Die makers are going away because CAD/CAM can do a better cheaper job.
I've
| seen woodworking plants that are totally automated and controlled buy a
guy
| at a keyboard. And guess what? That thing you bought, that doesn't
work
| anymore, it isn't worth fixing! It's too cheap to not go get a new,
better
| one. We don't need skilled people anymore...almost. In a couple of
| generations, EVERYTHING will be automated to the point we won't need
| doctors, mechanics, chefs, paperboys, cab drivers, elevator operators,
| ...etc. With the invention of the first nanite basic replicator, all
humans
| can soon become creatures of leisure and spend all their time pursuing
the
| arts and philosophy. All the machines will take care of themselves and
we
| can forget them. We are just on the cusp.
Tom, I usually enjoy your posts, but this time I will heavily disagree.
I've recently moved into a job in R&D for a large company. I do some cool
stuff. When I'm building or developing something that is one of a kind,
will have an application for one use and/or one time and then get tossed,
knowledge, skill, and initiative is the key to making it happen. There
will
always be a need for skilled machinists who can make something out of
anything with the least amount of instruction. I know you do it yourself
or
have it done at your shop. You can't replace it with a machine or slave
labor in another country. That's the "sweat" part of innovation. Without
it, all technology advances come to a stop.
All new technology comes from someone having to move from inspiration
to
perspiration. It just so happens that our current "system" (for lack of a
better word) is focused more on those who "know," rather on those who can
"do." You yourself as a business owner very well know that such skills and
attitudes are very hard to find, and are rarely a product of the normal
system. The Minnesota farmers holed up in their shops in the dead of
winter
"do" out of necessity and/or boredom. Kids right out of public school
think
that "doing" is typing away at a computer. Not.
I know you know better, but I'm sure you just got caught at the wrong
moment of judgement.
No, no no! Think about 100 years from now. I said a couple of generations!
Even then, you'll still need the "vision", you'll still need the insight and
such but the sweat and swarf will go away! How many times I have sat at my
desk banging away with Solidworks and I just want to push the key that sends
the model to the "creator" or such that spits out the part I want or the
whole assembly. We can already do it in wax, how soon in metal?
Nanotechnology, molecular manipulation, something we haven't thought of yet?
You'll build a machine or product or prototype from a keyboard or other
interface. Manual skills will still exist but as a hobby or art, look at
the tool and die industry, it's all CAD/CAM! There are few all-manual or
model shops left. A couple more generations and things will be
different...ya' think? The driving force of creation won't change much,
just the tools.
.
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