The digital hand
Subtitle: how computers changed the work of American manufacturing, transportation, and retail industries
By: James W. Cortada.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 494
Subjects: Automation -- Economic aspects -- United States; Manufacturing industries -- United States -- Automation; Transportation -- United States -- Automation; Retail trade -- United States -- Automation
Other titles: How computers changed the work of American manufacturing, transportation, and retail industries
Description: "In The Digital Hand, James W. Cortada combines detailed analysis with narrative history to provide a broad overview of computing's role in sixteen industries, accounting for nearly half of the U.S. economy. Beginning in 1950, when commercial applications of digital technology began to appear, Cortada examines the ways different industries adopted new technologies, as well as the ways their innovative applications influenced other industries and the U.S. economy. In addition to this account of computers' impact on industry, Cortada also demonstrates how industries themselves influenced the nature of digital technology."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Arrival of digital technologies and their applications; title: Digitizing the American economy; title: Presence and role of manufacturing industries in the American economy; title: Business patterns and digital applications in the transformation of manufacturing industries; title: Patterns and practices in three traditional manufacturing industries : automotive, steel and aerospace; title: Patterns and practices in three process industries : petroleum, chemical, and pharmaceuticals; title: Business practices and digital applications in information technology industries : semiconductors, hard drives, and software; title: Business practices and digital applications in the transformation of transportation industries : trains and trucks; title: Presence of wholesale and retail industries in the American economy; title: Business patterns and digital applications in the transformation of wholesale and retail industries; title: Patterns and practices in three retail industries : grocery, apparel, e-tailing.