Mechanization of mining is explained in terms of its effect on the mining of coal, focusing on, among others, types of mining, productivity, machinery, benefits to retired miners, fatality rate in underground coal mines, and output of U.S. mining industry. (Author/JN)

Describes changes in the design of products and in planning, managing, and coordinating their manufacture. Focuses on discrete-products manufacturing industries, encompassing the fabrication and assembly of automobiles, aircraft, computers and microelectric components of computers, furniture, appliances, foods, clothing, building materials, and…

The mechanization of the finance industry, transportation, distribution of goods, and telecommunications is discussed in relation to government's role, interactions among dependent parties, and nature of electronic and non-electronic technologies influencing the industries/institutions. Topics include checking, moving containers, universal product…

Discusses how technology is changing the nature of office work by introducing new information-processing machines, programs for operating them, and communications systems for interconnecting them. Includes diagrams of preindustrial, industrial, and information-age offices. (Author/JN)

Various aspects of automation are explained to differentiate it from technology and mechanization and to show the difference between using equipment to help humans and using equipment to replace humans. Five reasons are given for engineering psychology to focus its attention on automation. Automation issues in a number of areas are discussed,…

Discusses technological innovations affecting the economic and social basis of farm life, focusing on trends, farm equipment (plows, reaping tools, tractors, and harvesters), productivity, and influence of computers in all phases of agribusiness. (JN)

Discusses how mechanization of work has been treated by economists, what its effect has been on the past U.S. economy, and what its future effect is likely to be. Emphasizes the impact of mechanization on the shifting structure and character of the labor force and evolution of the work environment. (Author/JN)

When workers are displaced by machines, the economy can suffer from the loss of purchasing power. Historically the problem has been eased by shortening the work week, a trend currently at a standstill. (Author/JN)