Robotics and Office Automation: Implications for Vocational Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Directed to individuals responsible for program planning in vocational education at the national and state levels, this review and synthesis of technological developments in robotics and office automation identifies the potential demand for skills in these technologies in the next 3 to 5 years. The procedures for the study are described in the first chapter. Chapter 2, on robotics, begins with a definition. A discussion of usage patterns includes information on influences on usage (price of labor versus capital investment, cost, interface, assembly) and projections of usage. A section on training implications for vocational education offers information on skills and training requirements and suggests that a significant demand for newly trained robotics technicians will not develop. Chapter 3 on office automation begins with a definition and then discusses the use of technology and influences on the office automation equipment. A section on training implications for vocational education at the secondary and postsecondary levels discusses the need for word processing training for entry-level personnel and retraining needs for the acquisition of higher-order skills in analysis, comprehension, and logical thinking. (YLB)