Subject file THE WORLD OF WORK: Changes in the World of Work

The World of Work in History

Throughout human history, the world of work has seen profound changes. 

The Neolithic/Agricultural Revolution

• the most fundamental transition in early human history from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to one of agriculture and settled village life
• marked by the domestication of animals and plants
• began independently in multiple regions around 10,000 BCE
• led to permanent settlements, population growth, and the development of civilizations
• Neolithic centres: Old Europe (Southeast/Eastern Europe), Fertile Crescent (Levant, Mesopotamia, Anatolia)

The (1st) Industrial Revolution 

• between 1760 and 1840, beginning in Great Britain
• major shift from making goods by hand at home to machine manufacturing in factories
• based on new energy sources such as steam and coal to power machines, allowing for mass production, faster transportation, and rapid urbanization
• faster travel because of steam-powered engines in ships and locomotives

The Digital Revolution

• ongoing transformation of society driven by digital technologies, with artificial intelligence (AI) as a major catalyst
• AI integrates into everyday life, performing tasks that require human intelligence and revolutionizing industries through enhanced efficiency, automation, and data analysis
• Information Revolution: information moved from physical forms to digital forms and is fast and easily available, connecting billions of people in real time
• key drivers: Internet, computers and other devices, digital storage

Next Generation Technologies in Retail

Next-generation technologies are fundamentally reshaping the retail industry by enhancing customer experiences, optimizing operations, and driving new business models. Key areas of transformation include personalized customer experiences, workforce automation, and the integration of AI and automation into various retail processes. By embracing these next-generation technologies, retailers can create more engaging customer experiences, optimize their operations, and drive growth in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. 

Ex. 1: Before watching the video, make sure you know what the following concepts mean. Match them with a suitable definition from the list below:

1. machine learning
2. computer vision
3. AI (artificial intelligence)
4. deep-learning algorithms
5. sensor fusion

a) ___: a subfield of machine learning concerned with algorithms inspired by the structure and function of the brain

b) ___: the study and development of computer systems that can copy intelligent human behaviour

c) ___: the aggregation of data from multiple sensors to gain a more accurate picture of the sensors' subject or environment

d) ___: a type of artificial intelligence in which computers use huge amounts of data to learn how to do tasks rather than being programmed to do them

e) ___: a field of artificial intelligence (AI) enabling computers to derive information from images, videos and other inputs

KEY: Ex. 1:   a) 4; b) 1; c) 5; d) 3; e) 1:

Ex. 2: “Introducing Amazon Go and the world’s most advanced shopping technology” 

Ex. 3: Reading comprehension “Amazon opens a supermarket with no checkouts”

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42769096

Ex. 4: Watch the video on the British online retailer Ocado and its fully automated warehouses.

Ex. 5: Discuss the consequences of automation based on the information contained in the charts.[1]

---

[1] https://skillspanorama.cedefop.europa.eu/en/blog/machines-robots-and-threat-automation-eu-jobs