6 ms·
That has been the answer for last era. I think that’s why tech workers are starting to ask what we’re building it for. Because we’re here at this point because
by artellectual 8y ago
That has been the answer for last era. I think that’s why tech workers are starting to ask what we’re building it for. Because we’re here at this point because building “for money” is no longer good enough. Because what’s the point of having money when we’re cancer ridden and polluting our planet, and despite living in a rich planet people are starving, and the very resources that feed us are being destroyed. What’s the point of a pile of money when there is nothing else left?
- tiredwired 8y agoSounds like an opportunity for someone to build the tech to cure cancer and filter pollution.
- j7ake 8y agoCure for cancer involves molecular biology and filtering pollution involves heterogeneous catalysis. Where does programming come into play in any direct way to these solutions? I understand that tech is involved indirectly, but so is the coffee that is served in laboratories to keep scientists working.
- fjsolwmv 8y agoHuman Genome Project? Tunmmor detecting AI? Global weather simulations?
- justinclift 8y ago> Where does programming come into play in any direct way to these solutions? * Literally every piece of lab equipment that uses any kind of controller/control board (most of them)... has needed programming of one sort of another. Hmmm, with the exception of older analog gear maybe (decades ago?). * Every single piece of data collection, storage, analysis, and control software is created through programming. * Even communication of results among team members, to management, to the public, often requires programming.
- j7ake 8y agoI agree programming is involved with all solutions that will come from sciences. But considering how many people use macs, powerpoints, and word in those industries, I think those who are working at companies like Apple and Microsoft are contributing just as much as somebody who works as programmer at start-up involving heterogeneous catalysis.
- pjc50 8y agoWater filtration is generally old tech. It's infrastructure. It just needs someone to pay for it.
- g_sch 8y ago"All technical problems of sufficient scope or impact are actually political problems first." - Eleanor Saitta
- ekianjo 8y ago> despite living in a rich planet people are starving A overused rhetoric that does not hold much ground when you realize that poverty is decreasing fast everywhere around, and faster than we expected it to. https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/World-Poverty-Since-1820.png https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/World-...
- artellectual 8y agoWhat metric is that measuring? The standard of living? Or the amount of money people have? Because those are 2 very different things. What about access to affordable health care? Access to clean water? Access to nutritious food? Poverty measures so many things. Not just having money and wealth.
- Wintamute 8y agohttps://ourworldindata.org/water-access-resources-sanitation https://ourworldindata.org/water-access-resources-sanitation
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- djrobstep 8y agoNo, poverty is not decreasing everywhere. The graph shows absolute poverty decreasing.* Meanwhile in most developed countries, inequality is grotesque and the consequent poverty is on the rise. *Absolute poverty would decrease much faster if we exploited and expropriated from developing countries a little less.
- taneq 8y agoAbsolute poverty is the important measure. If I'm hungry, I'm hungry, no matter what my neighbours have. But if I have a 50" flat screen TV, and my neighbours have a 100" flat screen TV, that inequality does not make me poor. I can still watch TV.
- Wintamute 8y agoFor money is good enough for me. You probably doubt me, but I'm not callous, mercenary or indifferent to the experiences of others - I'm just buying into a system that is objectively working. Spend some time clicking through https://ourworldindata.org/ https://ourworldindata.org/ ... we're not doing as badly as you seem to suggest.
- monsieurbanana 8y agoYeah, mankind is in overall in the best shape it's ever been, and the numbers reflect that across many metrics. But what about climat change? We've improved so much across so many areas, surely that'll offset a few more degrees across the globe? It's just one metric among so many where we're doing great. What if it doesn't? How will we cope in 50 years with hundreds of millions of landless refugees? Right now we can't. Are we doing so great that in 50 years we will?
- throwaway8879 8y agoI won't be alive in 50 years.
- gutnor 8y ago> “for money” is no longer good enough It is still plenty good enough but employee want to be paid in the currency their employers uses. If you trust your employer to do things for the greater good, you can accept less money, or even no money at all like with the charities. If your employer is simply pursuing the highest profit, employee want the biggest amount of money. Banking never could claim a "Moral High Ground", so they compensated with cold hard cash. SV is loosing its and needs to align its salaries accordingly.
- JustSomeNobody 8y agoWhile I agree we should be asking, "what are we building this for", it is a two edge sword. There are a LOT of BS tech jobs that may go away because people are asking this question.