Topic: As more and more machines replace man’s labor, some people are unemployed and other people fear that they will be unemployed some day. What do you think?

  It is obvious that machinery industry develops at a fast pace. This acceleration can be illustrated by a brief account of the progress in computers. After Stibitz built his Bell computers in the late 1930s, it took about 20 years for the first commercial computer to be installed (1951). Only eight years later the transistor computer was sold for the first time. Ever since, new development in computers has been made so frequently that it is almost impossible to follow them. Today microchips as tiny as a baby’s fingernail are making all sorts of tasks faster and easier.

  With the wide use of computer technology, more and more automated machines replace man’s labour. Our banks are managed by computers and the tickets at the airport are issued by computers, too. In addition, the instruments and devices controlled by computers have entered offices, departments and houses to help people to work shorter and shorter hours and to enjoy longer and longer leisure hours in their own homes. It follows that human domestic servants and aid-jobless will cease to exist. The computerization, certainly, relieving men of heavy labour, makes many workers be out of work.

  Therefore, a fear has arisen among some people that the more machines will be used, the more workers will be unemployed and the lower our living standard will become. The fear, I think, is a groundless one, like the fear that the sky might fall. It is well-known that newly-invented machines need to be produced. Those who are replaced with machines can switch to new work. What is more important is that automation increases production of public wealth and the people will gain a happier life. It may be advisable to remember Jefferson’s words: How much pain has been caused by evils which have never happened! I expect the best, not the worst. I steer my ship with hope, leaving fear behind.

   很明顯機器工業正在快速發展。這種加速度可以用計算機的飛速進步證明。在30年代末當Stibitz被安裝在計算機中后，用了大概20年才生產出第一臺商業電腦。僅僅8年后，電晶體計算機被出售。此后，計算機不斷有新的發展，使得不太可能跟上他的步伐。如今，微型芯象嬰兒的手指一樣細小，可以更加高速便捷的完成各種任務。

 隨著計算機科技的廣泛的應用，越來越多的自動化機器代替了人力勞動。銀行通過計算機系統管理，機場的機票也通過計算機處理。此外，由計算機控制的各種裝置器已進入了辦公室，各部和家庭使得人們的工作時間越來越短，在家休閑的時間越來越常。接著人類的傭工和失業幫助將停止消失。計算機化，無疑，減輕人類的體力勞動，使人們從繁重的工作中脫離。

   所以，人們產生一種恐懼，就是越來越多的機器被使用，越來越多的工人將事業，人們的生活水平就會下降。我想這種恐懼是無根據的，就象擔心天會踏下來一樣。眾所周知，新一代的機器需要生產出來。這些將取代原來的機器進行新的工作。更為重要的是自動化加快了民眾財富的生產，人們將享受更為幸福的生活。要記住Jefferson的話：邪惡造成的嚴重痛苦，還從未發生過！我期待更好，而不是更壞。我為自己的希望掌舵，把恐懼拋在后邊。

原文地址：http://blog.51ielts.com/user1/829/archives/2007/6686.html