From Publishers Weekly
Technocrats insist that the "Information Highway" and computerization will benefit domestic and global productivity. Yet, will these technologies reduce the number of jobs and thereby disrupt economies? Nobel laureate Penzias (Ideas and Information) argues that technology will simplify managerial work, allowing firms to take advantage of efficiencies. But he maintains that computers will not replace workers. Instead, a "new harmony" will emerge between people and technology, reminiscent of previous transformations of the economy, sparking innovative work situations and economic opportunities. However, the author posits that social issues such as privacy, censorship, green marketing and reemployment will confront us as part of the process. Penzias's book will be especially of interest to technology buffs and futurists.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
"Harmony" is that phase that will, according to the author, succeed the eras focused on quantity and quality. We will function seamlessly with technology and our various forms of technology will communicate seamlessly with one another. Our televisions, computers, cars, and even our kitchen appliances will be controlled with one remote. In this futuristic vision, jobs will still be available, even though the amount of work will be diminished. Penzias, Nobel laureate and director of research at AT&T Bell Labs, attempts to tie together his disparate chapters with the harmony theme but the exact definition of the "harmony era" is elusive and is not applied evenly. By using examples of what technology has accomplished in our day-to-day lives, the author projects a future when every aspect of the individual's life can be monitored by computers, up to and including what clothes to wear. For those interested in futurism, the content and the author's credentials make this book worth a look. Recommended for business collections in public and academic libraries.
Randy Abbott, Univ. of Evansville Libs., Ind.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Randy Abbott, Univ. of Evansville Libs., Ind.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
