1 The staff at the Royal Mail had a different view of the effect
of new technology.
a) What was their complaint?
b) How is it possible for new technology to have this effect?
2 Although robots have not caught on as fast as people predicted, it
appears that they will continue to cost jobs in the mushroom industry.
a) What is a robot?
b) Using the article 'Business is mushrooming for robots', what aspects
of robots make them suitable for this work?
c) How will robots affect jobs in the UK mushroom industry?
d) According to Dr Chisholm, what would happen if they weren't introduced?
3 a) What is video-conferencing?
b) What are the advantages of video-conferencing?
c) How will video-conferencing i) create jobs, and (ii) cost jobs?
d) Why is video-conferencing useful to Omega Design?
4 The effects of new technologies on employment are very significant. In
a group, discuss the sorts of policies the government could implement in order to maximise the opportunities and minimise the problems that new technologies bring.