The "LAZY" Struggle

In engineering (especially including computer programming), I think that to some degree part of our job is to help people be "lazy" by simplifying basic or repetitive processes. The definition of lazy can varying here depending on context and/or relative positions or views. Let us also be clear that the "lazy" that I am speaking of is not intended as the stubborn sort of lazy where someone will not do something because they simply do not want to. Rather I am speaking of lazy in terms of effectiveness or efficiency. For example, have you ever used a calculator find the square root of a number or to multiply two large numbers, or perhaps you have used a computer to balance/track your checkbook, pay bills, online, manage income and expenses for a business, or make future projections based on some data (many online services, like bill pay, like to substitute "convenience" for "lazy", but do not be fooled, I am speaking of the same thing). These are quite useful tools, but there is a drawback...

Simple users of the tools can abuse the tools by using them to replace higher order processes, like thinking, reasoning, and debate. Have you ever met a high school student who needed a calculator to subtract 40 from 100? I have. My point here is not to pick on our educational system, but to consider how much technology is too much.

Think of it this way, we have three basic economic classes: upper/wealthy, middle, and lower/poor. What would happen if we could group people into these same groups in terms of knowledge. Assuming that our technology aides the upper knowledge class, how does it impact the middle and lower classes. Which class is growing faster due to technology?

Enjoy!