Humanizing technology

Abstract

The most spectacular recent happenings associated with advanced science and technology – 'energy crisis', Torrey Canyon, Flixborough – have tended to overshadow a growing discontent amongst those who work in the science based industries themselves. Incidents such as the sabotage of products on the robot assisted line at the General Motors plant at Lordstown in the USA, the 'protected' workshops in Sweden, the 'quality strike' at Chryslers in the UK, and the 18% absentee rate at Fiat in Italy are evidence of a discernible and spreading pattern of unrest.