Information Technology Defined as Revolutionary
 

In one of the final paragraphs of the essay, Zuboff defines information technology as revolutionary.  She explains it using it in both senses of the word revolution.  Revolution could either mean “a persuasive, marked, radical change” or “a movement around a fixed course that returns to the starting point.”

The first definition, “a persuasive, marked, radical change”, can clearly be seen.  Zuboff suggests that the integration of information technology will bring radical changes to our society.  The nature of peoples' jobs will change and management of the work force will be altered.  Workers will have to learn new skills and how to work with information technology.  The managers will not be able to manage the workplace in traditional ways because the jobs will be different and new precedents will have to be set.  People will be faced with different problems than in the past and will have to cope with them in new ways.  What will managers do?  Technology has the capability to replace people in many areas of the work force, such as secretarial positions, laborers, etc. The possible potential of future technology will propose difficult dilemmas, creating both good and bad situations. Society as a whole will have to adjust to these alterations in the workplace.

In the second context of the word revolution Zuboff basically states that the problems faced by an industrial society, such as with the Industrial Revolution, will once again be problems.  She argues that the society will be divided among people with different interests struggling for power, only this time, because of greater technology, more grounds for attacking and defending will be available.  There will be competition to be better, faster, and to dominate the market.  The struggle will be more heated and who knows what will be the result.