Automation: how much is too much?

    Authors

    P. A. Hancock

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Keywords

    automation; limitations; design restrictions; Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, Applied; Psychology

    Abstract

    The headlong rush to automate continues apace. The dominant question still remains whether we can automate, not whether we should automate. However, it is this latter question that is featured and considered explicitly here. The suggestion offered is that unlimited automation of all technical functions will eventually prove anathema to the fundamental quality of human life. Examples of tasks, pursuits and past-times that should potentially be excused from the automation imperative are discussed. This deliberation leads us back to the question of balance in the cooperation, coordination and potential conflict between humans and the machines they create. Practitioner Summary: The reason for this work is to examine how much automation is too much. The investigational form is synthetic in nature. The major finding is - it depends? Each design decision of practitioners as to what to automate and when is, therefore, critical and fateful.

    Journal Title

    Ergonomics

    Volume

    57

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    449

    Last Page

    454

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000333877900012

    ISSN

    0014-0139

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