The Impact of Automation on Work

This computer, I want to donate it to the government as a gift for the benefit

of all people. What does this computer do?

By remote control,

the geek can perform every job that is done by men and women.

My purpose is to free mankind of all physical labor, brain work, and responsibility.

You mean no one would have to do any work? That's impossible!

No, no, that's why I brought you here,

to show you it is not impossible.

Please, follow me.

Professor, why do you call it the geek?

Well, its full name is Goodfellow's Effort Eliminating Computer. G E E C, geek.

There it is, gentlemen, the geek.

Holy brain busters, it's gigantic! Very impressive, professor.

I'll show you how it works.

This control bank operates all types of transportation, everything from bicycle

to spacecraft. Communications,

telephones, television, everything.

The geek is programmed to handle all business matters.

Buying, selling, advertising, filing, typing, bookkeeping. Fantastic.

These controls can

run every factory machine in the land. No need for factory workers.

Wow. Farming, eh?

I guess the geek will run the tractors and let the farmers take a rest.

They deserve it. Everybody deserves a rest. That's why I built the geek.

Since the beginning of time,

men and women have had to work hard every day to survive.

But now, with the geek in control, nobody will have to work. Not even housewives.

What will people do all day?

Why just sit home in their geek built houses, eat geek prepared meals,

and spend the whole day watching

movies and sporting events on their geek television sets.

But that means actors and athletes will still have to do their jobs. No, no.

The actors and athletes won't be real people.

They'll be electronic images programmed to go through the motions of a play or a

variety show or an athletic event. Hey, imagine.

Joe Namath can sit at

home and watch himself playing a football game that he never really played.

Yes, yes, exactly.

No one will have to wear himself out doing a job of work. The geek will do it all.

Well, how about his school kids, professor?

Aha. Let me show you.

Every child will receive school lessons at home, on his geek TV.

There'll be no need for schools or teachers. No schools? No teachers?

Wow, groovy!

It's a miraculous machine, professor. I'm greatly impressed.

You know something, Bill?

Even if I complain sometimes about homework, I really enjoy school.

I'm gonna miss going to classes, being with my school friends.

Gentlemen, I think Wendy has just made a very important observation.

She has shown us the basic fault of the geek.

I know you mean well,

professor, but your computer can be a bad thing for people. That's right.

Everybody, even young kids,

should have responsibilities. I agree.

It's good for people to work, to use their brains.

If they don't, they'll have no purpose in life. But, but I, I, I...

Mr. Huggins, the government must accept my gift.

It'll be the greatest thing that ever happened to mankind.

Professor, I'm afraid I agree with the super friends.

The government will not involve itself in Project Geek. All right, then.

I'll offer free geek service to the public.

Anyone who wants to subscribe can have himself a permanent coffee break.

And you can't stop me. No, we can't.