The future of employment: Holograms?

The University College London Hospital has 2D projections of nurses

Image: Charles Hutchins

This article in the Evening Standard under a different economic climate may have been more positively.
However for the demographic that has struggled long time to even find employment, any jobseeker out of university and even down to ourself is and should be less than impressed by this article.
What are we talking about? 
'Brent? Iv' only been once says actress who is boroughs hologram Shanice'
(Read the Evening Standart Article here.) What may have been attempt to disguise it as a success story for the actress Shanice Stewart-Jones or even a celebration of moving into a more cutting edge future as often depicted in movies, are news that may leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many.

Edinburgh Airport Hologram

Image: Tim Lucas

With this figures as put in to context at this BBC article: 
UK's unemployment falls by 4000 to 2.51 million. 

From that article are the following extracted facts:
"It continues on to place this statement in to context to not be fooled by these 'positive' news and further explains:
Youth unemployment, amongst 16-24, up by 15,000 to reach 973,000.
The ONS also released figures showing that wages grew by 1.1% over the past 12 months. When bonuses were included, wages grew by 2.1% - the highest annual growth rate since June 2011. Further in this article, Mr Carney linked the Bank of England's interest rate policy decisions to the unemployment rate for the first time. He said the MPC will not consider raising interest rates until the unemployment rate falls below 7%, which he predicted would take about three years and the creation of 750,000 jobs.
Meanwhile the number of people out of work for over two years is up by 10,000 to 474,000 and at 16 years high.
Labour's shadow employment minister, Stephen Timms commented the reality is that for ordinary families things were getting "harder not easier" and that highlighting the rise in part-time workers simply shows that "Ministers just sound out of touch when they ignore the fact that the number of people who are working part-time because they cannot find a full-time job is at record levels," he said.

Image: Adam Bowie

This takes us back to the initial article that prompted this post in the Evening Standard. Unfortunately in the current context and climate these holograms as an alternative for employees are little more than a slap in the face for the workforce and "potential workforces". As a complementary feature it could serve a nice novelty but aimed at replacing a real employee that would cost this council £17.000 a year it is simply disgraceful. This is a salary insufficient to buy a flat, a house of decent standard within the capital of London and if you are lucky enough to find one of the above it won't leave you with much to save or get by on with extortionate travel cost attached should work not be in working distance. And let's not dream about starting a family. The number of graduates in debt and out of work are a as painful thought as any of the other unemployed persons.
This is not eve considering the limitations of a hologram with the lack of true human interaction and also discounts all the additional odd jobs that make employees invaluable for going the extra mile while although it is often not part of their job description but is adding priceless value to any company. So as delightful a person Shanice maybe she maybe representing something that evoke less than positive associations for some. Having Holograms at hospitals as pictured above, where by it's very nature the numbers of people in sheer panic and a state of upset are high is beyond questionable. In this instance it is simply there to remind you to clean your hands. Yet one wonders how far will this be taken. Airports also encounters numerous passengers with fears to downright phobia of flying how adequate is a hologram? Granted for now it seems this movement is relatively contained but for how long and at what cost will this be explored further in the future?

Image: Jenni Konrad

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