Can You Be Replaced?
By teamrose
@teamrose (1492)
United States
March 1, 2010 10:51am CST
Bank America has these great new ATMs that accepts checks without deposit slip. No more drive-through teller lines. Can also deposit cash without deposit slip.
In fact, I was just on a rare visit to the post office when I noticed, they took out all the stamp machines. Replaced by an ATM type machine where you can do all you mailing without going to the counter.
Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart, and Ikea are a few of the stores I visited this week, all with self-checkout.
The casinos no longer take coins, so lots of jobs lost. Change ladies replaced with ATM like machines. I even played at a virtual blackjack table. Six players sit at machine together while video screen dealer runs the game.
Now I'm on a search, how many job types are lost through technology? Can you be replaced? How?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
21 Mar 10
I work in a restaurant. I am not so sure that a machine can effectively provide good customer service in a fast-food place, so I don't really think I have to worry about being replaced by a mechanical device any time soon LOL
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
23 Mar 10
Yeah, but I am yet to see a vending machine that can actually cook a meal and send it out.
@mslena75 (561)
• United States
3 Mar 10
This is scary jobwise, although I will admit there are certain instances where I don't care to deal with people. I enjoy dealing with people when I'm out shopping such as cashiers, banks, post office, etc. I would much rather NOT deal with people on the telephone though...a good deal of telemarketers are just plain rude. And then you have the issue of all the customer service jobs we have outsourced to countries where English is NOT the first language. Nothing I hate worse than calling my credit card company and getting someone I cannot even understand. I will ask them to please transfer me to America or just hang up and keep calling back until I get someone who at least has a better grasp on the language. I am fortunate in that I work in the medical field directly with patients and can't be replaced by a robot.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
1 Mar 10
I was very disappointed to learn about how the casinos are now operated. I liked getting the coins in the bottom when I won. I liked the roving coin changers! And it's not as if those casinos can't afford to hire people--they rig the games so that the house wins more than 90% of the time!
I prefer the self checkout but since I realized what these things were doing I will stand in a line for a real cashier.
I can be replaced with an automatic dog/bird feeder/waterer. I'm unemployed so I would not be missed!
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
1 Mar 10
Yes there are many jobs that are being replaced by machines and new technology.. It seems if we keep on this new trend one day, human interaction will be rare or not existence. The term spending time with friends, has changed over the years.. It use to be you would go out or hang out at one person's house to have fun and catch up.. Now their are cell phones, voice mail, email, texting, and many other facets to communicate.. So the face to face contact is becoming less and less...
I do not think any type of technology that we have or will have can replace human interaction. There are certain things that can not be replaced.. The ability to give a loved one a hug or wipe away a tear.. Also when you are with people there are things that are communicated which are non verbal... gestures, smiles, touch, smell, these things are not replaceable, there may be other ways to show emotion or to read between the lines but its not quite the same... I do not believe I can be replaced by a machine.
