Three issues raised in this speech on the prospects of converting education from a labor intensive to a technology intensive enterprise are the following: how technology might affect the quality of education; the relationship of technology to equality in education; and the transitory nature of technological innovations. It is observed that quality of life objectives are increasingly preferred by youth today and that these less tangible objectives should be considered in educational development. The question of equity is viewed as one of the most critical issues and the least amenable to a technological solution. Major problems in programs involving technological reform are reviewed as including preoccupation with implementation, coping with long-term implications, and community involvement. Features of these proposals focus on provisions for consumer choice, expansion of an apprenticeship tradition, and promotion of human interaction. While it is observed as unlikely to expect increased productivity at the elementary or secondary levels by means of technology, the university level appears as a possible target. A final summary advises cautious thinking in relation to the use of technology and its consequences, and notes the role of the Federal Government as working within policies compatible with pluralistic values and goals for education. (Author/KSM)