The benefits

Press, 31 October 1979, Page 22

The benefits

Sharing the benefits is one of the biggest problems that arises from the advent of computer technology, says Mr Bruce Moon, director of the university computor centre. The benefits should be shared by the whole population, and not just those whose jobs or businesses get direct advantages, believes Mr Moon, who pioneered the technology in the South Island. “It’s not good saying we will give the benefit to employees by feather-bedding; that brings the benefit to a selection only,” he says. The technology does have significant social benefits. One is that it is not a

heavy user of energy. For example, micro-computers may use less power than leaks from the batteries that they draw from. The second is that it does not cause pollution, which is important in an overcrowded world. Computer . technology will pervade most fields, Mr Moon says. It has enormous potential. From present trends, “paper technology” is much at risk from computing. “Everywhere where you use paper as a means for transmitting information . . this will be done bv computer in a short number of years, because paper technology is obsolete.”