Summary
There are thousands of little jobs computers can't do which tech companies need to get done in order to improve their services. But what are the people who do those jobs called? Learn a new expression and find out why Neil's bashing away at his keyboard all the way through this episode of The English We Speak.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei…
Neil
…and me, Neil.
Feifei
Er… Neil, can you stop playing around on that computer and concentrate? In this programme, we have a new word connected to the worlds of technology and work. It's used to describe a kind of worker who provides an essential service for the smooth-running of all things web-based. A microworker.
Neil
A microworker? Isn’t that someone who makes microwave ovens?
Feifei
No, Neil, though it does have the same prefix – ‘micro’.
Neil
Ah yes – and the word 'micro' used as a prefix, indicates that something is small.
Feifei
But we're not talking about small workers, we're talking about small digital tasks that computers can't do on their own. Neil, stop typing!
Neil
Sorry… These might be things like drawing around a digital image of a face to help train artificial intelligence systems to recognise people.
Feifei
That's right – microworkers perform simple, repetitive digital tasks that help improve algorithms.
Neil
Let's hear some examples.
Examples
Since the recession, lots of people who lost their jobs have earned cash as microworkers.
Some of the biggest tech giants have use microworkers to help develop their systems.
Some complain it's badly paid, but other like the flexibility of microwork.
Feifei
You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. In this programme, we're looking at the word 'microworker'. It describes people who earn money from performing simple, repetitive digital tasks that help develop computer systems.
Neil
As we've heard, microwork isn't a full-time job. It's something people can do as much or little as they want, when they want.
Feifei
On the other side, it's not very well paid or secure.
Neil
Right, are we done?
Feifei
Yes. What are you doing that's so important?
Neil
Oh you know, just earning a little bit of extra cash as a microworker.
Both
Bye!