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C00002 00002	.cb WHAT HAVE WE DONE WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY?
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.cb WHAT HAVE WE DONE WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY?


	In order to evaluate what will be done with new technology,
it is worthwhile to look at what Americans have done with the
technological advances of the last century and a half.

	1. We have reduced the working day and the working week.
We have gone from six twelve hour days to five eight hour days.
There hasn't been much reduction recently, because married men
with non-working wives - still the majority - haven't had much
incentive to reduce the work week further.  Better vacations
have seemed more worthwhile, and the desire for more money is
still very strong.  The unmarried and families in which both
work would often want an additional business day off each
week.

	2. We have delayed the start of the working life and
reduced the effective age of retirement.

	3. We have substantially dispensed with servants.

	4. We have reduced the size of the family unit.
Children move out earlier, and old people retain their
independent lives as long as they are physically capable.
This has been in the face of a vast increase in the number of
older people.

	5. We have reduced the pressure to work by making welfare and
other benefits more attractive and settling more doubtful eligibility
questions in favor of the would-be recipient of a benefit.

	6. We have greatly increased the effective commuting range.
This permits families to live in neighborhoods that suit them better,
to have more flexibility in changing jobs, and permits family members
to work in different locations.

	7. We have made long distance travel available and convenient.