Jacquard loom: Difference between revisions
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}}The [[Jacquard loom]] was a power loom that simplified the process of manufacturing textiles with such complex patterns as ''brocade'', ''damask'' and ''matelassé'' with the use of punched cards. It was invented by [[Joseph Marie Jacquard]] in 1804, and technology guru {{author|James Burke}} — a super cool seventies guy and former of great impressions on the young [[JC]] — hailed it as an early example of a computer in his magnificent, formative-impression inducing TV series, ''[[Connections]]''. | }}The [[Jacquard loom]] was a power loom that simplified the process of manufacturing textiles with such complex patterns as ''brocade'', ''damask'' and ''matelassé'' with the use of punched cards. It was invented by [[Joseph Marie Jacquard]] in 1804, and technology guru {{author|James Burke}} — a super cool seventies guy and former of great impressions on the young [[JC]] — hailed it as an early example of a computer in his magnificent, formative-impression inducing TV series, ''[[Connections]]''. | ||
Now, in 1805, was there a [[thought leader]] like former Deutsche Bank chief [[Rumours of our demise are greatly exaggerated - technology article|John “Hot Take” Cryan]] on hand to | Now, in 1805, was there a [[thought leader]] like former Deutsche Bank chief [[Rumours of our demise are greatly exaggerated - technology article|John “Hot Take” Cryan]] on hand to declare, “Right. That’s it. Human usefulness as we know it is over. We are all going to become machines”? | ||
Not as far as we know. Though | Not as far as we know. Though there probably was, and he too became a victim of [[survivor bias]] and no record remains of him or his sagacity. | ||
In the meantime, what do we think happened to intricately-woven fabric, now it could be quickly produced with minimal labour? Did this mean [[rentier]] capitalists, finally freed of the burden of wasteful servants, could reap colossal margins while their monstrous machines pumped out acres and acres of expensive fabric for an insatiable market of wealthy, but now underemployed, former hand-weavers? | In the meantime, what do we think happened to intricately-woven fabric, now it could be quickly produced with minimal labour? Did this mean [[rentier]] capitalists, finally freed of the burden of wasteful servants, could reap colossal margins while their monstrous machines pumped out acres and acres of expensive fabric for an insatiable market of wealthy, but now underemployed, former hand-weavers? | ||
Well, it didn’t, did it, readers? ''Woven fabric plummeted in price''. Of ''course'' it did. Because ''anyone'' could produce it now. All you needed was a [[Jacquard loom]]. And all of a sudden ''every bugger was buying [[Jacquard loom]]s.'' | |||
''Woven fabric plummeted in price''. Of ''course'' it did. Because ''anyone'' could produce it now. All you needed was a [[Jacquard loom]]. And all of a sudden ''every bugger was buying [[Jacquard loom]]s.'' | |||
Who could have predicted ''that''?<ref>Well; Adam Smith, for one.</ref> Loom owners no longer needed hand-weavers. But the poor hand-weavers had no time to enjoy their new-found leisure, much less to pen think-pieces about [[technological unemployment]] or [[universal basic income]], for they were urgently needed to programme, maintain and enhance these fancy new automatic [[Jacquard loom]]s. | Who could have predicted ''that''?<ref>Well; Adam Smith, for one.</ref> Loom owners no longer needed hand-weavers. But the poor hand-weavers had no time to enjoy their new-found leisure, much less to pen think-pieces about [[technological unemployment]] or [[universal basic income]], for they were urgently needed to programme, maintain and enhance these fancy new automatic [[Jacquard loom]]s. | ||
Revision as of 17:39, 20 December 2020
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The JC pontificates about technology
An occasional series.
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The Jacquard loom was a power loom that simplified the process of manufacturing textiles with such complex patterns as brocade, damask and matelassé with the use of punched cards. It was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804, and technology guru James Burke — a super cool seventies guy and former of great impressions on the young JC — hailed it as an early example of a computer in his magnificent, formative-impression inducing TV series, Connections.
Now, in 1805, was there a thought leader like former Deutsche Bank chief John “Hot Take” Cryan on hand to declare, “Right. That’s it. Human usefulness as we know it is over. We are all going to become machines”?
Not as far as we know. Though there probably was, and he too became a victim of survivor bias and no record remains of him or his sagacity.
In the meantime, what do we think happened to intricately-woven fabric, now it could be quickly produced with minimal labour? Did this mean rentier capitalists, finally freed of the burden of wasteful servants, could reap colossal margins while their monstrous machines pumped out acres and acres of expensive fabric for an insatiable market of wealthy, but now underemployed, former hand-weavers?
Well, it didn’t, did it, readers? Woven fabric plummeted in price. Of course it did. Because anyone could produce it now. All you needed was a Jacquard loom. And all of a sudden every bugger was buying Jacquard looms.
Who could have predicted that?[1] Loom owners no longer needed hand-weavers. But the poor hand-weavers had no time to enjoy their new-found leisure, much less to pen think-pieces about technological unemployment or universal basic income, for they were urgently needed to programme, maintain and enhance these fancy new automatic Jacquard looms.
They re-specialised. Now their skill was programming the Jacquard loom and designing faster, fancier, more flexible Jacquard looms.[2]
The new 2020 model Jacquard
What, 200 odd years later, do you think you are currently staring at? A faster, fancier, more flexible Jacquard loom.