What does it all mean? Is all this for not!?

[Malice]

This is a little story on wired. It basically is describing a shift from left brain super techs to a more right brained society of more touchy feely stuff. They say that India and Asia can do all our straight technical stuff for a lot less so as americans we need to create a balance between the two. It's certainly a good read. Check it out and make your own decision.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/brain.html?pg=1&topic=brain&topic_set=

[Dante]

This article reminds me of that episode on Star Trek: Next Gen where they revive those 3 people in stasis from the 20th Century. When that money grubbing control freak guy asks the Picard the question, after Picard explains there's no more need to acquire material items, "Where's the challenge, then?", Picard answers "The challenge is to better yourself."

Are we really that close in this world where technology is to a point that we can really say "The challenge now is to better ourselves."? I don't think so. Sure there's outsourcing going to India and such. Sure we're experiencing a shift in industrial economics. But that's all wrapped into sociatel progression.

As a 'knowledge worker', I personally don't feel that my current position in the industry is threatened to greatly because there will always be a need for a computer tech (at least until they perfect nanobots to repair hardware and self-healing software :wink: ). However, for Malice's future profession it may be much tougher do to the fact of Asia's monster personel factory cranking out millions of programmers.

So in the meantime, let's stock up on those candles and signature-brand bathroom items to feel good and promote this upcoming Conceptual Age. :neutral:

[Ghost]

I've noticed a lot of things that the article mentions. But most of it has always applied. Even before outsourcing and back in the distant past when Bell Labs was still part of AT&T you had people who where very good technically. But you always had the people who took it to another level. People who could get the big picture. People who didn't like the look of the ancient phone and decided to make new sleeker models. Like the article says, it's always been a part of human nature.

What it comes down to, is if someone else can do your job for less, maybe you should take what you know and diversify it. Being able to take your stock trade and add that little bit more will make you worth than that cheaper person, and thus, worth your exorbenant salary demands. :)

[Malice]

Absolutely, you guys are both right. I've also noticed, even back in the late 90's when I worked at Xircom, they wanted programmers, any programmer. If you had a degree, that's all that mattered. Your skill really didn't matter because retarded middle managers thought the way to solve the workload problem was to just throw bodies at it. After the industry laid off TONS of programmers, everyone said don't go into software cause no one is hiring. I have seen it differently though. Your mundane monkey coding, that even the retards can do is easily outsourced to India and Asia, wherever. But if you are a GOOD programmer there there are plenty of jobs to choose from. Also being able to see the big picture is important in any field, not just tech fields. And another thing, defense contractors will never outsource because it would compromise security. Having said all that, I really do not doubt my choice to become a software engineer. I feel good about my decision and think that I will be fine. However, I think like the article, Ross and everyone says, it is important to be able to do more than just be technical, which I think I can also do. That is a lot more than I can say for most of my classmates, I would estimate only about 20% of us are any good at software development which means there ARE going to be a lot of unemployed RCG's! Blah, what a ramble, sorry. :neutral:

[Ghost]

Although it does bring up a good point. With all those useless people out there looking for jobs, good luck finding one for yourself. :p

[Malice]

No, that is not my point. My point is they are useless and can't get jobs but I will. Hell, I interviewed for the first place I applied to for an internship. They wanted me for two different positions and had to fight over who got me, I'm not worried... :cool: