People have more time for leisure activities in the year 2008. The average work day is about four hours. But the extra time isn’t totally free. The pace of tech

People have more time for leisure activities in the year 2008. The average work day is about four hours. But the extra time isn’t totally free. The pace of technological advance is such that a certain amount of a jobholder’s spare time is used in keeping up with the new developments, on the average, about two hours of home study a day. Intriguingly, this is probably true. The difference is that 'home study of new developments' actually just takes place at work, and the 8 hour workday is still going strong, if only as an illusion. The pattern seems to be that the predictions for technology, especially anything requiring complicated physics or engineering, are wildly inaccurate, while the predictions for social, organizational, or behavioral change are either on the money, or too conservative. Since consumer programs are usually meant to aid existing behaviors, the authors predictions don't overshoot the mark by nearly so much. Sometimes, social institutions are completely ignored as subjects of change. "Other conveniences ease kitchenwork. The housewife simply determines in advance her menus for the week, then slips prepackaged meals into the freezer and lets the automatic food utility do the rest. At preset times, each meal slides into the microwave oven and is cooked or thawed. The meal then is served on disposable plastic plates. These plates, as well as knives, forks and spoons of the same material, are so inexpensive they can be discarded after use." How quaint. What on earth is said 'the housewife' supposed to do? not be a housewife, perhaps?