Building robot McDonald's staff 'cheaper' than hiring workers on minimum wage

But will it make the swill taste any better or increase the nutritional value?

Well then... The USA had better get themselves educated to something better than corn syrup and $15/hour.

McDonald's using robot arms could be the best thing ever for the USA and the world! No "Hallelujah!" needed. No guns needed.


All in our only one world,
Martin

More than just the USA, Martin. If you read the article(s) on the subject, Europe is facing about a loss of 1/3rd of its jobs over the next 20 years too.

Wasn't really aimed at you and the others that realise what lies ahead. But hopefully an eye opener to those who are in the words of Dionne, Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' Plannin' and dreamin' for "America to be Great again".

**********************
On to a different tale. US nuclear force 'still uses floppy disks'

The US nuclear weapons force still uses a 1970s-era computer system and floppy disks, a government report has revealed.

The Government Accountability Office said the Pentagon was one of several departments where "legacy systems" urgently needed to be replaced.

The report said taxpayers spent $61bn (£41bn) a year on maintaining ageing technologies.

It said that was three times more than the investment on modern IT systems

Don't think the person who reported this understands "Assembly Language Code"

According to the report, the US treasury also needed to upgrade its systems, which it said was using "assembly language code - a computer language initially used in the 1950s and typically tied to the hardware for which it was developed".

Wasn't really aimed at you and the others that realise what lies ahead. But hopefully an eye opener to those who are in the words of Dionne, Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' Plannin' and dreamin' for "America to be Great again".

**********************
On to a different tale. US nuclear force 'still uses floppy disks'

The US nuclear weapons force still uses a 1970s-era computer system and floppy disks, a government report has revealed.

The Government Accountability Office said the Pentagon was one of several departments where "legacy systems" urgently needed to be replaced.

The report said taxpayers spent $61bn (£41bn) a year on maintaining ageing technologies.

It said that was three times more than the investment on modern IT systems

Don't think the person who reported this understands "Assembly Language Code"

According to the report, the US treasury also needed to upgrade its systems, which it said was using "assembly language code - a computer language initially used in the 1950s and typically tied to the hardware for which it was developed".

<grin>

I have fond memories of the IBM Series-1's... A real workhorse of a computer. Nothing fancy... but they just... work. I spent years working with them.

As to assembly language... I became quite proficient in it back in the early 1970's onwards on a IBM 360 at first, then later on on a IBM 370, a IBM 4331 and finally on a IBM 4341 mainframe.

Yep. I'm an old fossil.

Don't think the person who reported this understands "Assembly Language Code"

According to the report, the US treasury also needed to upgrade its systems, which it said was using "assembly language code - a computer language initially used in the 1950s and typically tied to the hardware for which it was developed".

It might be intentional bias.

Of course the "typically tied" is flat wrong, it is always tied.

Now if they knew stuff, they would report that the Gnu Compiler Collection always uses assembly language (the word code doesn't belong) and is the most used around.

---

Yep. I'm an old fossil.

I've probably got you beat on that. I'm a retired electronics engineer that when I started we got 70% of our instruction on valves, and reluctantly by the staff 30% on these new fangled transistors. I think they just missed the heaters.

Yep. I'm an old fossil.

I've probably got you beat on that. I'm a retired electronics engineer that when I started we got 70% of our instruction on valves, and reluctantly by the staff 30% on these new fangled transistors. I think they just missed the heaters.

You might.

I have some experience using 'valves' in electronics (here in the states, we call them 'vacuum tubes' or just 'tubes'...).

But it wasn't in computer systems. It was in radio (amateur radio). REAL radios glow in the dark. :P Gawd the tube equipment is HEAVY. I have a rather old 1.5kW linear that weighs over 100 lbs.

Yep. I'm an old fossil.

I've probably got you beat on that. I'm a retired electronics engineer that when I started we got 70% of our instruction on valves, and reluctantly by the staff 30% on these new fangled transistors. I think they just missed the heaters.

You might.

I have some experience using 'valves' in electronics (here in the states, we call them 'vacuum tubes' or just 'tubes'...).

But it wasn't in computer systems. It was in radio (amateur radio). REAL radios glow in the dark. :P Gawd the tube equipment is HEAVY. I have a rather old 1.5kW linear that weighs over 100 lbs.

It is those dang transformers for the plate voltage, and those high voltage oil filled capacitors.

Can you imagine a modern switching power supply feeding a linear ...

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...REAL radios glow in the dark. :P Gawd the tube equipment is HEAVY. I have a rather old 1.5kW linear that weighs over 100 lbs.

It is those dang transformers for the plate voltage, and those high voltage oil filled capacitors.

Can you imagine a modern switching power supply feeding a linear ...

Yep. We have that far too widely spread...

It's called "ADSL broadband" on centuries old+ telegraph wires. Yep, we still use the same system even now. Supposedly the Marketing people market that as "fast and modern" internet... At least the ADSL is not quite 1.5kW band splatter! Then again, the few mW x 1000's of users do go into too many unintended places far and wide...

Oooer until the telcos do at long last go a little more recent and move up to clean quiet efficient near-maintenance-free fibre optics to the home/premises to deliver something nearer to reasonable internet speeds...

Shame about the old-style monopolies...


Until when?

IT is what we make it...
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Linux? Windows? Mac O/S? Unix? All?
http://neurogadget.net/2016/05/29/adobe-flash-player-exploit-used-hackers-attack-users/31733

Cybercriminals have also posted malicious ads on legitimate websites, and they had the same effect. When users have visited these websites, they’ve installed viruses on their devices, without their knowledge. This technique is known as malvertising, and if users don’t have an efficient anti-virus program, they are victims for sure.

So when are we going to make sites that sell advertisements responsible for those ads?

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Building robot McDonald's staff 'cheaper' than hiring workers on minimum wage

The worrying forecast could threaten jobs at the fast food franchise, a former CEO of the company warns.

A former McDonald's CEO warned that robots will take over staff jobs at the fast food empire - because it's cheaper than employing humans.

Ed Rensi has said that buying highly skilled robotics is a cheaper alternative than employing people on minimum wage to work in the company's worldwide restaurants.

He warned that huge job losses are imminent, and commented that it would be 'common sense' to replace humans in the workplace.

This comes as a study into the future of human employment has predicted a surge in machine-led work such as robotic counsellors, body part makers and virtual lawyers.

The worrying research, by professor of management practice at London Business School, Lynda Gratton, and futurologist David A. Smith, suggests that humans will be replaced because robots are able to produce better results.

Prof Gratton said: "Studies have suggested that a third of jobs in Europe will be replaced by technology over the next two decades."

If the recent comments are to be believed, McDonald's staff could face the same fate.

Former CEO Ed Rensi said: "I was at the National Restaurant Show yesterday and if you look at the robotic devices that are coming into the restaurant industry.

"It’s cheaper to buy a $35,000 (£24,000) robotic arm than it is to hire an employee who’s inefficient making $15 (£10.20) an hour bagging French fries.

"It's nonsense and it’s very destructive and it’s inflationary and it’s going to cause a job loss across this country like you’re not going to believe."

...

"It’s just common sense. It’s going to happen whether you like it or not. And the more you push this it’s going to happen faster."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/building-robot-mcdonalds-staff-cheaper-8044106

Yep.

I've been saying this for some time now.

The more you try to pay people a 'living wage', the faster this process will proceed.

The US$15/hr crowd is just making their own jobs obsolete.

2. or 3. industrial revolution! are you prepared? ;)

So if all the manufacturing jobs went out of the country, to places like China, because of the cheaper labour. What chances are there of it ever coming back when in China they do this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36376966

chances are great, that software engineers come work in developed countries with robots...'cause of the quick supplies!

but, for that developed countries have to have:
- cheap transport
- cheap & quick response in parts
- cheap ELECTRICAL ENERGY
;)

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

Building robot McDonald's staff 'cheaper' than hiring workers on minimum wage

The worrying forecast could threaten jobs at the fast food franchise, a former CEO of the company warns.

A former McDonald's CEO warned that robots will take over staff jobs at the fast food empire - because it's cheaper than employing humans.

Ed Rensi has said that buying highly skilled robotics is a cheaper alternative than employing people on minimum wage to work in the company's worldwide restaurants.

He warned that huge job losses are imminent, and commented that it would be 'common sense' to replace humans in the workplace.

This comes as a study into the future of human employment has predicted a surge in machine-led work such as robotic counsellors, body part makers and virtual lawyers.

The worrying research, by professor of management practice at London Business School, Lynda Gratton, and futurologist David A. Smith, suggests that humans will be replaced because robots are able to produce better results.

Prof Gratton said: "Studies have suggested that a third of jobs in Europe will be replaced by technology over the next two decades."

If the recent comments are to be believed, McDonald's staff could face the same fate.

Former CEO Ed Rensi said: "I was at the National Restaurant Show yesterday and if you look at the robotic devices that are coming into the restaurant industry.

"It’s cheaper to buy a $35,000 (£24,000) robotic arm than it is to hire an employee who’s inefficient making $15 (£10.20) an hour bagging French fries.

"It's nonsense and it’s very destructive and it’s inflationary and it’s going to cause a job loss across this country like you’re not going to believe."

...

"It’s just common sense. It’s going to happen whether you like it or not. And the more you push this it’s going to happen faster."



http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/building-robot-mcdonalds-staff-cheaper-8044106

Yep.

I've been saying this for some time now.

The more you try to pay people a 'living wage', the faster this process will proceed.

The US$15/hr crowd is just making their own jobs obsolete

One thing that CEO is not thinking about .

How to destroy a company . Put Robots in to serve the public in it's store !!

I ask this will you stop buying McDonalds if there are no staff and you are served buy a Robot ?

I won't !!

I already get the poos with the super markets and there self serve tellers .You only have to look at the people waiting to be served where there are people serving you .

You may get away with Robots in the factory's but when it comes to serving customers people like to be served buy Humans not Robots .

So bring it on McDonalds and we can all watch as another Stupid American Company choices to implode for making decisions purely on the bottom line and greed

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One thing that CEO is not thinking about .

How to destroy a company . Put Robots in to serve the public in it's store !!

I ask this will you stop buying McDonalds if there are no staff and you are served buy a Robot ?

I won't !!

I already get the poos with the super markets and there self serve tellers .You only have to look at the people waiting to be served where there are people serving you .

You may get away with Robots in the factory's but when it comes to serving customers people like to be served buy Humans not Robots .

So bring it on McDonalds and we can all watch as another Stupid American Company choices to implode for making decisions purely on the bottom line and greed

He is thinking about it. He will replace the dozen people you don't see in the back room kitchen with robots who will make you food to exact specifications every time. He will still need a couple of humans to load the raw materials. He will still have a couple humans to clean the restrooms. He will still have an order taker behind the counter, well in the USA for ADA reasons, to hand you your swill.

Mind you there are already restaurants in the USA that have no servers. Food is ordered by iPad and delivered by drone. They are doing well. (Can't remember the name of he place in the mid-west that has been doing this since the 70's but using baskets and an order slip.) Obviously they are not white table cloth places. There will always be a need for those.

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One thing that CEO is not thinking about .

How to destroy a company . Put Robots in to serve the public in it's store !!

I ask this will you stop buying McDonalds if there are no staff and you are served buy a Robot ?

I won't !!

I already get the poos with the super markets and there self serve tellers .You only have to look at the people waiting to be served where there are people serving you .

You may get away with Robots in the factory's but when it comes to serving customers people like to be served buy Humans not Robots .

So bring it on McDonalds and we can all watch as another Stupid American Company choices to implode for making decisions purely on the bottom line and greed

Glenn,

One thing you are not considering... Order accuracy and menu choice.

The human order-takers at some of these burger joints frequently have... difficulty getting even simple orders correct. Just the other day at Catfish King, the human order taker left off part of the order for one of my children. She just flat out didn't ring it up correctly. You ever try to explain to a six-year old exactly why he didn't get his food without being... offensive to the order taker (who was within earshot)?

Automated order-taking equipment is nothing NEW. Ten years ago, another 'burger joint', Jack in the Box, started putting in order-taking kiosks (similar in appearance to an ATM). Many customers waited in line at the kiosks while very few (if any) walked up to the human order-takers/cashiers. Why?

You could tell EXACTLY what was on the order before you paid, plus you could get quite a bit more latitude on exactly what you wanted on your burger at the automated ordering kiosk than you could at the human-manned (personed?) cash register.

More choice...
More accuracy...
Same price...
No surprises...

Better service...

Some poor schmuck is out of a job taking orders down at the burger joint? Who gives a sh**... And I am far from the only one that feels this way.

I go to the burger joint to get the kind of burger that I want when I want it, not to give some bozo that doesn't even know which button to push on the POS system a job.

I'm sorry Glenn but I have no problems about using those "self serve robots" in the supermarkets as I'm in and out quickly.

Plus you have those couples who want to save on their grocery bills who love them too as the man will usually turn up with a small trolley load to distract the attendant while the missus checks through high price fruit & veg as lesser products.

Cheers.

Automated order-taking equipment is nothing NEW. Ten years ago, another 'burger joint', Jack in the Box, started putting in order-taking kiosks (similar in appearance to an ATM). Many customers waited in line at the kiosks while very few (if any) walked up to the human order-takers/cashiers. Why?

You could tell EXACTLY what was on the order before you paid, plus you could get quite a bit more latitude on exactly what you wanted on your burger at the automated ordering kiosk than you could at the human-manned (personed?) cash register.

More choice...
More accuracy...
Same price...
No surprises...

Better service...

Some poor schmuck is out of a job taking orders down at the burger joint? Who gives a sh**... And I am far from the only one that feels this way.

I go to the burger joint to get the kind of burger that I want when I want it, not to give some bozo that doesn't even know which button to push on the POS system a job.

Re JIB. Saw a kiosk go in. Few people used it. Most got frustrated as it blocked access to one of the human staffed registers. It also was frequently vandalized and hence out of order. It recently came out and it seems for good as the holes for the computer and power cables were filled in and the floor tiles with the anchor bolt holes were replaced. Perhaps the order takers at this JIB got orders right? (Maybe motivated to have/keep a job?) Also this JIB seems to do a lot of cash business and those Kiosks don't have a slot to put coins into! YMMV.

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Automated order-taking equipment is nothing NEW. Ten years ago, another 'burger joint', Jack in the Box, started putting in order-taking kiosks (similar in appearance to an ATM). Many customers waited in line at the kiosks while very few (if any) walked up to the human order-takers/cashiers. Why?

You could tell EXACTLY what was on the order before you paid, plus you could get quite a bit more latitude on exactly what you wanted on your burger at the automated ordering kiosk than you could at the human-manned (personed?) cash register.

More choice...
More accuracy...
Same price...
No surprises...

Better service...

Some poor schmuck is out of a job taking orders down at the burger joint? Who gives a sh**... And I am far from the only one that feels this way.

I go to the burger joint to get the kind of burger that I want when I want it, not to give some bozo that doesn't even know which button to push on the POS system a job.

Re JIB. Saw a kiosk go in. Few people used it. Most got frustrated as it blocked access to one of the human staffed registers. It also was frequently vandalized and hence out of order. It recently came out and it seems for good as the holes for the computer and power cables were filled in and the floor tiles with the anchor bolt holes were replaced. Perhaps the order takers at this JIB got orders right? (Maybe motivated to have/keep a job?) Also this JIB seems to do a lot of cash business and those Kiosks don't have a slot to put coins into! YMMV.

Sure Gary. YMMV. The USA is hardly a one-size-fits-all nation, after all.

The JIB I am speaking about *WAS* right across the street from a major University... The University students were, I think, a bit more receptive to it than perhaps the general population might be, IMO. Dormitory food can be quite nasty, ya know. <wink> Plus, being younger, they have less of a fear of using technology. Remember when VCRs came out? The younger people had little trouble with them, but the older people had difficulty getting them to quit blinking "12:00".

And it DID have a slot for both paper money and coins, in addition to the slot for the 'plastic money'. I have no idea if/when it got removed (I haven't been there in close to 10 years).

And it DID have a slot for both paper money and coins, in addition to the slot for the 'plastic money'. I have no idea if/when it got removed (I haven't been there in close to 10 years).

One I saw would take paper money but not coins. Of course it gave coins as change. Area is a dirt poor one and coins are important.

Your point about flashing 12:00 still applies today to the Coke Freestyle machines in JIB. Amazing how many can't figure out how to use the touch screen to select the flavor and then press the dispense button! Then again they might just be illiterate which would apply to a kiosk as well.

Yes, America is incredibly diverse.

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And it DID have a slot for both paper money and coins, in addition to the slot for the 'plastic money'. I have no idea if/when it got removed (I haven't been there in close to 10 years).

One I saw would take paper money but not coins. Of course it gave coins as change. Area is a dirt poor one and coins are important.

Your point about flashing 12:00 still applies today to the Coke Freestyle machines in JIB. Amazing how many can't figure out how to use the touch screen to select the flavor and then press the dispense button! Then again they might just be illiterate which would apply to a kiosk as well.

Yes, America is incredibly diverse.

'Dirt poor'? WTF were they doing at a fast-food burger joint? SNAP is not applicable to fast-food purchases. Besides, that schizz ain't healthy, especially trying to live on it. Go to the store, buy real food, take it 'home' and cook it.

'Illiterate'? The kiosks used *pictures* of the menu items/lettuce/cheese/ketchup/etc. If they were visually-impaired, a store employee would (at least should per the ADA) assist them.

Kong you know it far better to cook your own food and much cheaper and you have way more choice .

Maybe if you lot stop going to Macc's and Burger king and start eating real food you won't be so sick and all die before your 75

Oh the minimum wage here was just increased to $17.80 and we have had a minimum wage for 30 years and our economy is doing better than any other country in the world

Last 12 months our economy grew 3.1 % and to think we have also lost some manufacturing but not because of the minimum wage .

Example Ford and Holden(GM) .

8 years ago they announced they where going to close there factory's here in 2017 next year along with Toyota

Why are they doing this and what are the consequences ?

First reason was the high ozzie dollar at $1.10 to the US
There moving the manufacturing back to Detroit
Second reason is our car industry has been opened up to other company's because of free trade deals NOT minimum wages . It's still cheaper to build them here than in the States
And lastly because we have a small car market of only about 1 million cars sold each year and that is split between all the manufactures so Ford and Holden and Toyota can only really expect to sell 50,000-80,000 cars each because of imports from Korea and Europe and because Australian are buying those cars more than American cars because there basically built better and are smaller 2 ltr not V8's we are more Climate conscientious than you lot in your tanks .

Now they are thinking of leaving them open but it's to late , why are they thinking they need to keep the factory's open the ozzie has fallen back to $0.75 to the U.S dollar so it's even much cheaper to make them here .

But it's now to late . Once there was a rivalry here between Ford and Holden(GM) and they had 60% of the market . Since there announcement this has droped to about 15%

Australians are very peed off about the decision and stopped buying crap American cars as there not as well built and are buying KIA, Toyota , Mazda , Volvo , Alfa Romeo , Saab , any car other than Ford or Holden .

Your economy is doing not so good 8 years after the GFC and spending 5 trillion plus our economy has been going well and yet our government only spent about 30 billion in the 8 years and only 2 billion at the time of the GFC witch went to low incomes and those on pensions. It's called Bottom feeding the economy and it worked both here and Chile the only 2 country's that have tried it so not bad 100% success rate

Minimum wages do not cause mass job losses .

As for Macca's they only hire very young people about 1/2 there staff still go to school and don't get minimum wages as there not 18 so job losses there won't do jack to the economy if the jobs are lost.

The Hospitality here whinge all the time about minimum wages and penalty rates yet they are still making money and not closing so it's all B/S

The super markets just got in big trouble with the new award and Woolworth has now been ordered to redo the agreement and pay 9 million in back wages to there employees because of what is called the no disadvantage laws meaning a employer can not change a award and reduce the rates lower than what the employee was getting before any new agreement can be reached .Only exemption is if the company can prove they are losing money and there employees agree to a pay cut for a limited time of about 2 years and once the company returns to profit they must lift the wages quickly back to the old level witch in most cases means the employee is still worse off as they would have got a increase in that 2 years .

And to think it was 1 guy NOT in a Union that took the company to the fair work commission and won.

A minimum wage protects employee from unfear employers who take advantage of people like what you saw in your country during the GFC , where they where reducing wages even thou the company was not having trouble or losing money .It is called profiteering and wage gouging

And it's why still after all the money your economy has not bounced back and still has 6 % plus unemployment (yes I know the official figure is 4.7% but real unemployment is 6 % plus)

ours is 5.2 and has been steady for over 10 years even during the GFC and the recent End to the mining boom and realignment of the economy now the mining boom has ended and job loses in that industry

minimum wages does not lead to mass job loses that is a lie told buy employers they have used the same argument for 30 years that we have had the minimum wage .

Now $15 US as a minimum wage may be to much as that would be $20.48 here ours is $17.80 Australian so I will agree the amount you set as a minimum wage you do have to be careful with but not having a minimum wage is just plain stupid

Argue about the rate YES but not about bringing in a minimum wage and you don't base it on a living wage but on what the poverty line is basically 2 x what the poverty line is , so here that is $8.90 per hour would be the poverty line that's $6.51 US so your minimum wage should be no less than $13.02 per hour if your going to be fair and that is US dollars not ozzie

I have owned 1 Holden(GM) 1 Ford and 1 Mazda Capella 1.6ltr not the Rotary engine , a Rx3 motor but a normal OHC type. Which car did I own the longest and took 1/2 way round Australia across the middle (where the heat and deserts are ).....it was not the Holden or Ford but the Mazda and was a much better car than both the other 2 and they where built here in ozz . Just so you know I'm not saying Ford and Holden are crap because there American , they just are not as reliable as Jap cars or built as well

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And it DID have a slot for both paper money and coins, in addition to the slot for the 'plastic money'. I have no idea if/when it got removed (I haven't been there in close to 10 years).

One I saw would take paper money but not coins. Of course it gave coins as change. Area is a dirt poor one and coins are important.

Your point about flashing 12:00 still applies today to the Coke Freestyle machines in JIB. Amazing how many can't figure out how to use the touch screen to select the flavor and then press the dispense button! Then again they might just be illiterate which would apply to a kiosk as well.

Yes, America is incredibly diverse.

'Dirt poor'? WTF were they doing at a fast-food burger joint? SNAP is not applicable to fast-food purchases. Besides, that schizz ain't healthy, especially trying to live on it. Go to the store, buy real food, take it 'home' and cook it.

Cook it on what? Oh, your dirt poor have a wonderful home with running water and a stove to cook. In my world the dirt poor get their change begging at the curb and need to buy something to use the restroom. Those who are just poor face an hour bus ride to get home to that kitchen to cook lunch on their 30 minute lunch break from work.

Yes, SNAP EBT isn't taken. That's why they have to count out 30 or 40 pennies to get something off the dollar menu.

'Illiterate'? The kiosks used *pictures* of the menu items/lettuce/cheese/ketchup/etc. If they were visually-impaired, a store employee would (at least should per the ADA) assist them.

As to pictures, well, you still have to be able to read done, next item, insert money, cancel ... and if the employee has to help them, it would be faster to use the register than the kiosk anyway!

I think you need to spend a little time getting to know America, all of America, not just your micro-neighborhood.

Oh, Michelle Obama would not approve. That JIB and a MickeyDees sit with a public school between them. Teachers bring entire classrooms over for lunch on some days. Kids buy their own, but it is a field trip. That swill is powerful stuff.

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