Continuing Education + Job Training // Publishing since 1999
Resources

The Future of Work: The First Technology Wave

By ADMIN - April 12 2022

By Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly

In the first tech wave of COVID-19, we have seen a rise in fields like software, financial, digital media, information technology, big data, cloud computing, communications, e-commerce and adoption of artificial intelligence. This will continue to gain momentum.

To deal with the volume of government and health care inquiries, IBM’s Watson and Google’s AI technologies were rapidly deployed using their voice-based and text agents to answer questions thereby increasing service time and decreasing reliance on humans. This technology will evolve quickly and be applied more broadly.

The first wave also accelerated other technology advancements like robot delivery experiments by an e-commerce provider in China, 3D printing of PPE in response to limitations to traditional manufacturing and supply-chain, robots being used to clean, disinfect and deliver food, and drone usage for daily tasks such as food delivery and even dog walking.

Crisis triggers innovation, drives rapid adoption, and provides many new opportunities for entrepreneurship and application of technology. From here, those technologies will evolve quickly and spread to many other applications putting many existing lower skill jobs at further risk. Whether or not we get another wave of the COVID-19 virus itself, the first wave of economic disruption will certainly be followed by a second: a tsunami of technological change and disruptive innovation.

To see the accompanying video use the QR code below:

Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly, Assistant Vice-President, Continuing Studies, York University

Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly has been the Assistant Vice-President, Continuing Studies at York University for six years where she is the founding executive head of the newest and one of largest Schools in Canada. She previously worked at McMaster University for 15 years in roles that included Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Centre for Continuing Education. She served on the Board and as President of The Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE) and is currently on the Board of The Centre of Education & Training (a career and settlement services organization).


Digital Citizen Corner
Learning Curves

You Are the Product: How Free Platforms Profit From Your Digital Life

By BRYAN SENFUMA -
May 9 2025

Your clicks, likes, and scrolls aren’t just habits—they’re currency. Bryan Kaye Senfuma explains how “free” platforms profit from your data, build digital versions of you, and quietly shape what you see, feel, and believe online.

Read more...

Viewpoint
Learning Curves

The most important factors affecting the election results..

By OSMAN OZSOY -
May 6 2025

In the face of economic uncertainty and international tensions, Canadian voters chose continuity over change in the 2025 elections. Prof. Dr. Osman Ozsoy analyzes how trade wars, security concerns, and historical patterns shaped the outcome.

Read more...

Here In the House of Mirrors
Learning Curves

Red Dress Day: Honouring the Voices That Still Echo

By ROB HERHOLZ -
April 23 2025

On May 5th, red dresses appear across Canada as symbols of remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. Red Dress Day is a powerful call to honor lives lost, support grieving families, and stand for justice and change.

Read more...

Self-Development
Learning Curves

Inside Out Safety: The Subtle Reasons Behind Sexual Violence and a Teen's Guide to Safe Dating

By ANNA KARLOVA -
April 21 2025

Inside Out Safety: Why Teens Are Vulnerable to Sexual Violence and How to Talk About It
Explore the subtle psychological reasons behind teen vulnerability in relationships and discover practical, non-judgmental safety tips for guiding your child through dating in the digital age.

Read more...