Our Shrinking World

Computers &
the Global Economy

Dr. Ranette Halverson

The First Computer -
ENIAC
• 1949
• First U.S.
Computer
• Less powerful
than a $3
calculator
• The demand?
How has the computer changed
the world as you know it???
• Cell Phones
• Music Downloads
• Online Courses
• YouTube
• Face Book – My Space
• Online Shopping
Still changing……
• eHarmony.com
• Wikipedia
• Ebay
• Travelocity.com
• Email
• Instant messenger
• Text Messaging
What are YOUR Plans???
• Where will you work?
• What will you do?
• Who will you work with?

ALL of this is changing as we speak!

Much of the change is due to the
computer and the related technology!
 What does this mean?
• 10 Flatteners
• Level Playing
Field
• All have to do
with the
computer
How is the world economy and job
market changing?
• Today we will discuss
WHAT is happening.
Actually what has
already happened!
• Not why it happened!
• Not is it good or bad!
• That is for you to
decide!!
Outsourcing
• 1800’s – Conestoga Wagon Covers
• Today
– Manufacturing
• Cars, Clothes,
– Help desks & Call Centers
– Programming
• Outsourcing will not be the end of
civilization as we know it!!
Accounting – Tax
Preparation
• 2005 – 400,000
returns outsourced
to India
• Security
• Creativity
 Radiology - MD
• Work from home
– WF doctor works for San Antonio
hospital
• Australia, India
– Day there when night here
 Journalism
• Reuters
– Leader in world news
• Bangalore, India
– Flash Headlines from news releases
• US reporters
– Analysis
• 1/5 Cost
 Call Centers
• 250,000 in India
– Dell, IBM, Airlines
• Training & Education
• Jobs lost or Jobs not wanted?
• Use U.S. Products
– Bottled water, soft drinks, etc.
– More disposable income in India
Remote Personal Assistant
• Brickwork (div. of B2K Co.)
– $1500 to $2000 month
– Typically work during our night
• What do they do?
– Research
– Presentations
– Reports
Are all the jobs leaving the
US?

• This is a serious
question.
• But the answer
might be no!
 McDonalds
(yes, the hamburger place)
• Missouri, Minnesota, Massachusetts
• Call center in Colorado Springs, Co.
• Pay operators more but costs down 10%
• Cut errors by 1/2
• Service time down by 30 seconds
• Next step: “phones” at tables which go to
the call center
• Headquarters doing a trial
 Jet Blue Airlines
• Home Sourcing
• 100% of phone reservations
• 400 women (mostly) in Salt Lake City
• 30 hour weeks at home
• 1 day a month in office for training
• 30% more productive than similar on-
site reservation facilities
U.S. Army
• Predator drones
– Unmanned spy planes
– Flying over Iraq
– Flown by soldier in Las Vegas, Nevada
 E-Tutoring
• From India
• $15 to $20 per hour
• Use cameras, microphones, digital
pencils, scanners
Television Production
Higglytown Heroes
• ½ day per episode
– Send the stars a laptop computer
– Designers in San Francisco
– Writers at home
– Animators in Bangalore
• Private virtual nw
Entrepreneur
• Salesforce.com
• “Rent” business software
– $17 per month
– Constant upgrades
– Web based
• Co. in China
– $1 million per year in business
– 30 employees
Gold Mining
• Red Lake, NW Ontario
• 2000 – Contest
– All mining data online
– Tell them where to mine
• Winners 2 Australian Companies ($425k)
• Hit gold on first 4 attempts
• 2001 – 10X gold of previous years
• An Incredible Change of Attitude
Politics & Elections
• 2004 – Howard Dean
• 2008 – Moveon.org
• 2008 - ??
• Future – Online voting
True Change is Occurring!!!
• How do we manage it?
• Who regulates it?
• Who taxes it?

• A significant change is occurring in

ALL aspects of our world and at
SUPER speed!
What’s Next??
• What will be the next BIG change??
• I don’t know!
• I know you better be comfortable with
computers and technology!!
Questions or Comments?