In the early 19th century, the invention of the loom threatened to turn the labor market upside down. Until then, cloth was made by skilled artisans, but the loom enabled more cloth to be made more quickly by less-skilled workers. One could even argue that the Jacquard loom, a loom that allowed for complex weaving patterns via punch cards, was the first computer.
This technology had a disruptive effect on the labor market and gave rise to the Luddites, a group who would physically destroy looms in factories. Jobs were lost, wages were depressed, and working conditions became more unpleasant. The loom led to social upheaval and drastic change in the short run.
But in the long run, the benefits were many. Making textile workers more productive meant more and better clothing for everyone. The advances in textile production were a harbinger of capital accumulation, economies of scale, and complementary innovations in many other areas as well, and the Industrial Revolution began.
