Major resources exist that can be used to develop or upgrade programs in community colleges and technical institutes that educate robotics/automated systems technicians. The first category of resources is Economic, Social, and Education Issues. The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) report, "Automation and the Workplace," presents analyses of…

This collection includes five papers assessing current and projected developments in the field of robotics and the implications of these developments for vocational-technical education. The first paper, "New Applications for Industrial Robots--Perspectives for the Next Five Years" (M. Illi) compares advances in robotics in Japan and the…

The purpose of this paper is to assist those in education, government, and industry who are responsible for managing vocational and technical training in their decisions about what programs should be initiated to accommodate the growing use of robots. Section 1 describes robot characteristics (type of drive, method of teaching, lifting capacity,…

This booklet provides a brief overview of some of the major trends most likely to influence vocational education during the remainder of the 1980s. It is directed to all vocational educators, particularly planners and policymakers, who want a better understanding of the conditions under which their programs will operate. It considers the nation's…

Computers and robots are becoming increasingly more advanced, with smaller and cheaper computers now doing jobs once reserved for huge multimillion dollar computers and with robots performing feats such as painting cars and using television cameras to simulate vision as they perform factory tasks. Technicians expect computers to become even more…

Technological advances necessitate the continuous retraining of the work force. Three technologies are having greatest impact on the labor force: (1) the scope and depth of computer skills required by most jobs continue to expand; (2) robotics in manufacturing means that certain new jobs are more technical and require postsecondary education; and…