Navigating Office Automation: Humor and Challenges

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This chapter explores the humorous yet challenging transition in office work during the 1980s, driven by technological advancements such as IBM mini computers. It highlights notable events like the 1982 Office Automation Conference protests and the evolution from print to digital media in small publications. The narrative reflects on the impact of digitization on job stability, community engagement, and the cyclical nature of tech innovation and exploitation.

Paris Marx is joined by Chris Carlsson to discuss Processed World, a tech-critical, anti-capitalist magazine that satirized the absurdity of work in its publishing run between 1981 and 2005.

Chris Carlsson is the author of many books, including most recently When Shells Crumble. He’s the director of Shaping SF and a cofounder of Critical Mass. He was also one of the people behind Processed World.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.

Also mentioned in this episode:

You can find the full archive of Processed World on the Internet Archive.
Chris wrote about his experience making Processed World in Notes from Below.
Jacob Silverman wrote a great piece on the legacy of Processed World for The Baffler.

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