The Impact of Automation on Society

As the leading edge of the continuing technological revolution, automation has had an enormous impact on production, communication and scientific investigation. How is it related to other parts of our technology, and how is technology in general related to the organization of society? These questions were discussed by scientists, engineers, educators and business executives at the University of Georgia at Athens in February. The occasion was the First Annual Symposium on Automation and Society, sponsored by the university and the Reliance Electric Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. This article is a condensed version of a position paper, "The Impact of Automation on the Organization of Society," which served as a focus of discussion. Professor Bates is Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Georgia and a recognized expert on the sociology of occupations.