People seem to have no clue how close many industries are to automation or that they already are.
It's actually been happening quite a while already. You know those LEGO's you or your kids played with? The factories in Europe where they are made are almost completely automated. Labor in Europe is even more costly there then it is here. There are very few humans working there, so few they don't bother keeping the lights on over the machines. Robots don't need breaks, or even light for that matter. When you open those little bags of legos, you're the first human to even touch them.
Between the $15 crowd and the Obama regime's attacks on the franchise business model, don't be surprised within a decade you arrive at a fast food place and find it completely unmanned. No, it won't be closed, in fact more of them will likely be open 24/7. The order kiosks are already rolling out at many restaurants, even ones with wait staff, like my local Applebee's. Wendy's announced it was offering them to all of their 6,000 or so locations. I imagine most owners of them will take them up on that offer.
If you order a drink in a big Vegas casino, if you don't see the bartender actually make your drink it wasn't made by a human. Its likely the cocktail waitress had the the automatic computer robot bartender make your drink. Yes really, casino love them because they don't over-pour, give away free drinks and gets rid of other problems that come with human bartenders.
There has been plenty of meme's showing fast food workers their automated replacements (the kiosks). But that is only the ordering part. Here is what will replace the people in the kitchen.
http://www.psfk.com/2012/11/burger-making-robot.htmlhttp://www.foodbeast.com/news/heres-a-look-at-the-worlds-first-smart-restaurant-chain-kitchen-free-and-run-by-robots-2/If you don't think restaurant owners aren't looking at things like this, you probably support the $15 crowd. What I have heard, this machine isn't all that more expensive then what a restaurant kitchen already costs, and it takes up far less space. So it will become a no brainer.
The first rule of business is: to stay in business. If you cannot afford the labor, you find tech to replace the labor. And they will, because they will have to in order to stay in business.
A restaurant owner may find he may not have to directly employ anyone. In fact chain restaurants will likely prohibit direct employees due to the franchise model being blown up by the Obama regime. Obama's labor board wants to include employees of individual franchises as employees of the larger company.
The food suppliers would load the kitchen robot until that is also automated. Security, cleaning, maintenance, bookkeeping can be outsourced. It could be great for those people running those business, as it will be easier to run something completely hands off. It won't be so great for bottom level employees as they will be laid off or never hired to begin with.
So the attempt to "help" the little guy, will likely make it even harder for the littlest guy. Oops..............
Well, not oops, but that what the average person will think.
My neighborhood Wendy was remodeled recently. I was in the drive thru with my mom last week. As we were talking about how they had remodeled I was commenting that next time they renovate, they will likely make it automated.
