Social and Economic Technology - 4.1. Promotional Descriptions
Why is technology not offering jobs in rural Areas?
Many jobs being offered even now, rely upon technology. Actually, many more could do through the correct use of technology. Call centres, sales, clerks, artistry, education, etc.
The problem is even these industries seem to have an in inherent need for centralization, putting them into the larger towns. Totally out of reach to people in rural areas.
The cost of personal transport in rural areas is phenomenal. There is normally no decent transport infrastructure to speak of at all.
Very few railways.
Narrow roads that could not carry commuting traffic.
Car laws are aimed at Motor way Mad executives, putting car ownership almost out of legal reach to anyone trying to join the jobs ladder.
Public road services in rural Wales? There is a huge problem with rural buses. If there is a feeling of "If you miss it, you've had it, because it is the only one" people will never rely on it. Either a bus has to be provided _at least_ once every half hour from early morning to late nigh, or it will never attract enough use to be of any significance.
Do we need to face the impossible task of making something practical out of our non existent transport Infrastructure?
Do we even want the effect if we could?
The answer is - not if the IT infrastructure is developed instead.
The Telecottage
I t is NOT necessary or desirable that the majority of people should work at home. Most families are are not equipped to do this. There is a psychological need in a great number of us, to commute to a place of work. However, that commute needs to be measured in minutes not miles. Ideally, the commute should be to a "village centre" in close physical proximity to friends and social companions. In order to to promote village well being, these people should be fellow villagers, not necessarily people who happen to work for the same employer. Changing employer (something which can happen quite frequently) should NOT wreck social life. There needs to be a village centre to which people commute, meet together, but work for a variety of employers. This place is called a Telecottage.
The principle of the Telecottage has been around a fair while. However, it has NEVER been given a fair trial, it has been abysmally let down by the available Technology. This problem needs to be addressed.