Retiree Ramblings for the holidays... Why are our computer help people in Romania this week?
Yesterday [December 19, 2012] while typing on line, my ability to utilize my computer suddenly stopped. I tried a number of corrections that worked in the past to no avail. I called AOL repair by phone and was put in touch with an individual that could correct my problem. While on my cell phone he talked me thru a number of procedures and got me back on line in a few minutes. I was pleased that I didn't have to take my computer in for service at a price.
He spoke to me in clear English but with a slight accent. I'm located in southern Florida from where I called. I asked him where he was located? He replied, "I'm in Romania." I was slightly taken aback but I realized that we are talking to a machine on Mars that's millions of miles away; so talking from Florida to Romania is not such a big technical problem.
There is another problem that comes to mind. Why are we graduating many students in computer science that have problems upon graduation finding a position? Do they have to move to Romania to find a position? I feel that when we brush aside all the B.S., we find the situation is mostly governed by money. This situation is common with many large firms. If you subscribe tax time to one of the advertising tax help firms you could possibly again be talking to Romania if in need of help.
My wife and I as we drive around we play "looking at the different car models." As we come to a stoplight and observe the other cars in front of us. We check their makes and models. We constantly find that in most cases they are foreign. I stopped in at Harbor Freight Tools. Everything from tweezers to giant stationary power production tools was on display. The one thing they all had in common was Made in China.
I guess that computer operators in Romania and toolmakers in China are most likely not unionized. If you go to any large retail store the hardest thing to find is a salesperson and the easiest are products made overseas. I hate the scanning stations that by using a credit card you avoid the checkout station with a live person. The deal with a scanning checkout is simple and financial. The storeowner does not have to pay the scanning machine a wage, health insurance, pension or vacation. As the public becomes more aware of how to use the scanning checkout more and more individuals will disappear from the cash stations. They are now planning to remove pay by cash on the entire Florida turnpike. All may soon have to have a toll pass and toll takers a new job.
Technology is making life functionally easier but at the same time finding a job and protecting your job harder. Just look what has happened in Michigan. All of this occurred after an overwhelming Democratic victory in the past election. Is this get even time with the unions? Will the so-called “going over the cliff†situation have a greater effect on those making under $50,000 a year or those making over $250,000 a year. It doesn’t take a math genius to figure this one out.
In the next few months they will attempt to land a pilot less aircraft on a naval carrier. One of the prime naval officer jobs was carrier pilot. If this works a pilot at a console will be manning the flight controls. The air force is already successfully doing this with the drone program. With the cutback in multi engine pilots there will be a future need for airline positions that the airlines helped to cover. The machines are taking over.
I recall in 1932 at the Bryant elementary school cutting out the letters and numerals on a flat piece of cardboard. I would then under the direction of a teacher arrange the letters and numeral into words and sentences. All the while, I and 48 other pupils were sitting at desks screwed into the floor while I was in essence screwed into the desk. We now accomplish similar situations with computers on moveable seats and desks.
I have to say that mechanization is here to stay but will your job stay along with it? I have outlived the ink pen, manual typewriter, mimeograph, roll film, spring windup watch, car clutch, and doctors' home visits. I just pray that I and other retirees don't outlive their pensions. God bless this country.
