Abstract
Today’s futurologists and technocentrics are euphoric over the second industrial revolution — information technology (IT) — which has managed to combine radical innovations based primarily on computers, micro-electronics and telecommunications. They view this new technology as the panacea and saviour of the contemporary era, offering new jobs and untold social progress. On the other hand, critics of technological advancement point to its dangers and social costs, and its exploitation of labour within an unabated capitalist climate. The impact of technology, on employment in particular and on society in general, remains an ongoing debate.
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Notes
According to the Plan, information technology refers to all technological elements that enable the acquisition, storage, processing, transmission and presentation of information, with the involvement of primary technologies such as micro-electronics, computers, telecommunications and software technology (Government of Malaysia, 1991: 203–204).
Apparently there are five areas where computer technology may lead to employment expansion: jobs operating the new automated equipment; jobs involved with the development, maintenance and use of computer programs and data bases; jobs repairing and maintaining the new equipment; jobs manufacturing the hardware; and jobs selling the new equipment as well as training and educating people to run it (Armstrong, 1984: 161).
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© 1999 Cecilia Ng
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Ng, C. (1999). The Descent of New Technology: Computerization and Employment in Malaysia. In: Positioning Women in Malaysia. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27420-8_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27420-8_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-27422-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-27420-8
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