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1988-02-01
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The Luddite Revolution and Hypertext
====================================
The early introduction of automatic looms in England in the 1820's
threatened the traditional hand-work craft. Workers, with considerable
skill and knowledge of weaving, were easily replaced by machines.
To prevent this, the workers (known a Luddites) tried to destroy the
machines to prevent their usage. Since then, such actions towards the
introduction of labor-saving technology have been called a Luddite
reaction.
With computers, mild Luddite reactions have occurred with the imagined
consequence of industrial robots, office automation, and automatic
typesetting. Generally, job attrition is sufficient to balance the
needs for fewer workers.
Violent acts by labor have centered more on job loss due to other issues
(i.e., recession, overseas competition, discrimination, etc.) instead of a
sudden technological obsolescence of the skills in a class of workers.
However, there are exceptions. For example, in the design of very large
integrated circuit (VSLI) chips, attempts to build expert machines to
replace a very talented pool of designers have failed as the designers
refused to participate in processes that would replace their jobs. That's
a Luddite reaction.
The same Luddite reaction accompanies hypertext. Consider this:
Assume hypertext can organize complex fields of knowledge into formats such
that inexperienced users can quickly find the information they want. What
does that do to the previous vendors of information (the lawyers, doctors,
accountants, tax specialists, etc.)? See <FILE29 SOCIETY AND HYPERTEXT>.
People who supply physical procedures (surgeons, carpenters, dentists) are
safe from hypertext. However, hypertext can replace people now suppling
information (mental procedures), which may make obsolete years of
professional training or job experience.
Far fetched. Heck no. We're about to offer a hypertext system in one
profession that provides individuals the captured expertise of a
nationwide firm of experts. We've already seen Luddite reactions and may
well see more from the experts in other firms. <FILE43 EXAMPLES>
For another short example, hypertext radically increases the ability of
users to rapidly acquire by themselves whatever knowledge they want in
self-selected areas. What do teachers and professors do in the classroom
once someone creates a set of hypertext disks that cover their courses and
subjects? <FILE42 CLASSROOM> Provide more testing? Teach something else?
If subject mastery is their goal and hypertext delivers that faster and
cheaper, you'll see another Luddite reaction.
Simply stated, not everyone may celebrate your hypertext efforts <FILE44
SOCIETY> if your system radically defines the talents needed for success
and you haven't a solution for possible job consequences. Think about
that!
Neil Larson 1/16/88 FILE45
44 Rincon Rd., Kensington, CA 94707
Copyright MaxThink 1988 -- Call 415-428-0104 for permission to reprint