Steve Alexander, U, Google pioneer 3-D smartphone mapping software, Star Tribune, March 15, 2014; Tags: software, mapping; The technology could easily be used to map existing conditions of a building to be renovated/removed. Update: A video shown in class depicted a robot that surveyed a building during construction, (The B1M, The Construction Robots are Coming, YouTube, May 30, 2018). This shows how far the technology has advanced in 4 years. As someone who has helped survey buildings, I believe that robots will quickly replace humans in this task since they are not limited by the same physical constraints as people (maneuverability, high temperatures in mechanical spaces, less prone to error).
Harry Ridgewell, What will the future of work look like?, WikiTribune, July 9, 2018; Tags: 2018, future, AI, sociology, job; The expected downsides of automation include job loss in the lower and middle classes, particularly developing countries, increased income inequality, those who lose their jobs will need education to move up to possible new jobs, and it seems unlikely that an equal number of these new jobs will be created. Furthermore, “change is happening ten times faster than in the first [industrial revolution]”. I find this article very concerning because I agree that automation will create job losses but do not believe that most of society will take the necessary steps to lessen the negative impact that comes with automation.
Summary:
Most articles with a “future” tag also have an “AI” tag. It seems to indicate that people see AI as an important variable in determining the future. Naturally, AI, software, and computers are all related, but it seems that the big change in the future will be built around AI. These advances in technology are certain to revolutionize the building industry, but there will be negative outcomes of that revolution in the form of jobs replaced by AI.
Nicholas Maloney:
Your blog taught me more about the current state and expected
future of 3D printing in construction. I was surprised by how capable this
technology has become. But it also made me wonder what current limitations
exist for this technology. While it is possible to 3D print a building, how
much can the mix for the concrete change before it would no longer work? If the
cement or aggregate is unique to the company that creates the printer or even
uncommon, the raw material would have to be shipped on site at a high cost. A
unique kind of cement could also limit the weather conditions the printer can
work in or release more greenhouse gases while curing than ordinary concrete. the
geometry of the site could also make it difficult to bring a 3D printer on site
and operate it (ie sloped sites, size of the equipment).
Alec Silverstone:
I agree that there are tremendous opportunities with big
data, but I believe that it creates a vulnerability that everyday people try to
ignore for one reason or another. We have seen various databases be hacked and
even more worryingly, negligence has allowed big data to be misused by those
who own it. While I doubt that data will ever be unhackable, I think that the
cost of a data breach has not been fully considered when organizations invest
in cybersecurity. Likewise, organizations’ use of data should be closely
monitored.
Gabe, I agree there will be some job loss due to advances in AI and computing technologies (I expect quantum computing will eventually lead to a revolution in the capabilities of AI which could make it useful in many more fields), but I feel that despite the immediate negative outcomes, some of the problems being faced today make it imperative that we push forward with these advances. Changing technologies have always brought about swift societal change, we can’t stop progress so the best we can do is adapt as we go.
ReplyDeleteGabe, I found your point on the last article it really interesting, as it touches on an interesting subject regarding the future, and how our society will adapt with technology. One example of how we might not properly adapt is what is called the "Automation Paradox" which is basically the idea that while tasks like driving, calculating, etc. become more and more automated, we lose the need to perform any of those tasks on our own and eventually ignore them entirely. This is becomes a serious problem when technology may fail or malfunction, especially in times where quick decision making is the difference between life and death. Take automated cars for example. If we forget to drive all together imagine if the car began to malfunction while inside and the difference between life and death was simply knowing the basics of driving. That's not to say that we should avoid or fear automation/technology, but rather, we should use it as a means of progression, not as a crutch.
ReplyDeleteGabe, the AI you mentioned in the blog has a negative impact on the employment of people in developing countries. I think it totally makes sense. After AI develops to a certain stage, it will inevitably replace some ordinary productivity, thus affecting the employment rate. In addition, I also believe that under the impetus of market demand, a number of smart companion industries with artificial intelligence "personification" as a selling point must be promoted. Human society is a social society, paying attention to emotional and ethical relationships. In the future, human activities and entertainment will be diversified, but it is important that family and friendship are indelible. When the conditions are met, the orphans or independent children who have lost their loved ones must have a highly anthropomorphic partner who can accompany themselves. Emotional delivery must be different from traditional moral values or subversive. This is a question worth exploring.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you discussed building surveys so much in your research. I have also done surveys of buildings, and I found that after 2-3 hours, it becomes extremely laborious and starts to become sloppy. If a computer were to take over that task, the quality could be consistent throughout the entire inspection, and like you said, they may be able to reach areas and views that humans cannot. Drones are also becoming a big piece of building inspections, occasionally equipped with cameras for video or IR readings. I believe many new developments will happen in the coming 5 years that outdate what is being done even today.
ReplyDelete