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The correct question to ask about technology is "... For who?" For who within the supply chain will software make things simpler? Who benefits? Rarely, techno

The correct question to ask about technology is "... For who?" For who within the supply chain will software make things simpler? Who benefits? Rarely, technology makes things simpler for all parties. It might make the customer's life simpler, or the maintainers, etc. But a lot of technology exists to make some folks wealthier at the expense of others. So in this case, who benefits? It seems like the consumer and the entity shipping goods as part of a global supply chain.

bmitc 4y ago
That's a good point. Software will add rigidity when applied to automated processes. I'm not sure the supply chain world needs more rigidity right now.
dredmorbius 4y ago
See Neil Postman's questions on technology: 1. What is the problem that this new technology solves? 2. Whose problem is it? 3. What new problems do we create by solving this problem? 4. Which people and institutions will be most impacted by a technological solution? 5. What changes in language occur as the result of technological change? 6. Which shifts in economic and political power might result when this technology is adopted? 7. What alternative (and unintended) uses might be made of this technology? <https://scottberkun.com/2016/the-7-questions-for-any-technological-idea/ https://scottberkun.com/2016/the-7-questions-for-any-technol...> <https://yewtu.be/watch?v=dBlfPhsrvtw https://yewtu.be/watch?v=dBlfPhsrvtw> <https://yewtu.be/hlrv7DIHllE?t=50m34s https://yewtu.be/hlrv7DIHllE?t=50m34s> From Technopoly: <https://www.worldcat.org/title/30337681 https://www.worldcat.org/title/30337681> Related: Postman's Five Laws of Technology: 1. “All technological change is a trade-off.” 2. “The advantages and disadvantages of new technologies are never distributed evenly among the population.” 3. “Embedded in every technology there is a powerful idea.” 4. “Technological change is not additive; it is ecological.” 5. “Technology tends to become mythic.” <https://pggalalis.com/postmans-five-laws-of-technology/ https://pggalalis.com/postmans-five-laws-of-technology/> (More detail at the link.)

bmitc 4y ago

That's a good point. Software will add rigidity when applied to automated processes. I'm not sure the supply chain world needs more rigidity right now.

dredmorbius 4y ago

See Neil Postman's questions on technology: 1. What is the problem that this new technology solves? 2. Whose problem is it? 3. What new problems do we create by solving this problem? 4. Which people and institutions will be most impacted by a technological solution? 5. What changes in language occur as the result of technological change? 6. Which shifts in economic and political power might result when this technology is adopted? 7. What alternative (and unintended) uses might be made of this technology? <https://scottberkun.com/2016/the-7-questions-for-any-technological-idea/ https://scottberkun.com/2016/the-7-questions-for-any-technol...> <https://yewtu.be/watch?v=dBlfPhsrvtw https://yewtu.be/watch?v=dBlfPhsrvtw> <https://yewtu.be/hlrv7DIHllE?t=50m34s https://yewtu.be/hlrv7DIHllE?t=50m34s> From Technopoly: <https://www.worldcat.org/title/30337681 https://www.worldcat.org/title/30337681> Related: Postman's Five Laws of Technology: 1. “All technological change is a trade-off.” 2. “The advantages and disadvantages of new technologies are never distributed evenly among the population.” 3. “Embedded in every technology there is a powerful idea.” 4. “Technological change is not additive; it is ecological.” 5. “Technology tends to become mythic.” <https://pggalalis.com/postmans-five-laws-of-technology/ https://pggalalis.com/postmans-five-laws-of-technology/> (More detail at the link.)