Chapters 16&17

In these two chapters, Alvin Toffler analyzes the tendency for relocation of work from the office or factory towards the house, along with the implications it suggests, mainly the alterations produced in the structure of the family and its existence.

To begin with, the new, demassified information and technologies allow the individuals to do their work at home rather than in a space clearly designed and promoted by the Second Wave. Thus, more and more people would choose to stay at home and work, since it enables them to reduce certain costs (even opportunity costs!) and to be closer to the family. Thus, transferring work from offices and factories in home work or even neighbourhood centres has many advantages:

1. It de-tensions the atmosphere and makes for a better workplace;
2. It reduces costs since the cost of telecommunication is lower than that of transportation;
3. It has the ability of reducing traffic and the pollution accompanying it.

Hence, we get to the existence of certain “telecommuters”, the people that do their work and share their information via satellites and other Third Wave-specific technological instruments. Since the part of the salaries that covers commuting is now lowered or, in some cases, removed, the prices will drop, a good effect for the consumers.

Moreover, since work now takes place in a smaller-scale environment, the individual can be better involved in the community life, while, psychologically, he/she gets a feeling of safety and integration. From the economic point of view, this kind of behaviour will waste fewer resources, from fuel and money to the most important resource, time.

In addition, the nuclear family will no longer exist; it will be demassified and will suffer changes in both structure and function. Since there has recently been a shift from the mother-father-two children family towards many other models, it is obvious that the roles have been reassigned, meaning that the provider, the caretaker and the protégée have changed their positions. The work-at-home future standard will mean the individuals communicate more with their families, allowing for better relationships and for more productivity and effectiveness.

Chapters 10-15

In a very brief description, Toffler makes us understand that the Third Wave and its civilization will be guided by the formation of a new info-sphere and a new techno-sphere, which will generate progress along four main lines:

1. The space exploration will give us a better understanding of the universe and could also lead to the discovery of new resources;
2. Underwater construction will flourish as a means of diversity and as a solution to the lack of terrestrial land to be used for constructions;
3. Computer science and electro-technical development will ensure the progress in terms of machineries and information processing.
4. Genetic engineering and biological advance will pave the way towards a healthier life and the security of life on the planet.

These developments are most likely seen through the advent of the computer, which is an instrument that amplifies our intellectual powers, since it is better at understanding complex interdependencies in a world where the laws of cause and effect have started to wear out. Thus, the ”demassification” of information and the simultaneous ascent of the computer modify the social memory. This social memory has evolved from the legends and in-brain storage of the First Wave to the written paper storage of the Second Wave and, now, to the screens and digital libraries of the Third Wave. This means that the change in history is accelerated, fuelling the tendency for social diversity, but also changing the status and operation of the office.

In terms of production, it has evolved from series to custom products, being, thus, demassified, as well. Similarly, since the consumer will have a larger and larger input, the approach becomes integrative, restructuring the factory. It is obvious, then, that we have to face a revolution in both offices and factories.