Mechanization It is common these days that in many industries, human labor is increasingly replaced by machines, and this change would have a profound impact on human history. Some people worry about the negative influence of mechanization, but I reckon that there would be far more benefits both individually and socially. The negative influence of mechanization is often presented in two aspects. For one thing, this change may lead to mass unemployment for low-skilled workers. Since machines are more efficient and cost-effective than human labor, it would not be a surprise that large numbers of worker could be dismissed in the near future. As a result, they could face a lot of pressure in life. For another, large scale of mechanization may also result in the loss of traditional handicrafts such as knitting, basket-weaving and carpentry, all of which take a long time to complete by human labor, and cannot compete with the production speed of machines. To many of us, those handicrafts are not only some skills but also part of our culture and lives, and it is regret that one day they may all vanish as no one will know how to do it anymore. While those concerns are well justifiable, I maintain that mechanization in general is conducive to human progress. Firstly, although it does cause unemployment, on the plus side, it also greatly promotes economic development due to improved productivity, thereby raising the quality of people’s lives. The issue of unemployment can be addressed if those workers are provided with a chance to be retrained for more advanced skills and knowledge. Secondly, with machines, people are spared to do some jobs that may put their lives at risk. For example, jobs like mining and oil exploration are extremely dangerous. Every year, numerous workers lost their lives because of various accidents. Yet if machines can take the place of human labor, such casualty would be largely reduced. In conclusion, although mechanization is not the perfect answer, in my view, it has more advantages compared to the problems, and certainly will propel the progress of human history.