Johan Söderberg – colleague, thinker, researcher, author and all round interesting guy has just given a presentation at FSCONS on the programming proletariat – well actually his talk was entitled A Labour Process Perspective on the Development of Free Software
In his talk he quoted Charles Babbage who demonstrates a wonderful techno-optimism (well he would, wouldn´t he?): “One great advantage which we may derive from machinery is from the check which it affords against the inattention, the idleness, or the dishonesty of human agents.” in The Economy of Machinery and Manufactures (1832).
Nice try Charles – people will still find a way to hack technology!