Understanding Automation: Benefits and Consequences

In Chapter 1 of The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr, entitled “Passengers” he talks about automation and how it affecting everyday life. The chapter is mainly about knowing the limits placed on automation. Carr is not against automation as many people would claim after reading this book. He wants people to understand that if everything were to become completely autonomous, why do we need human interaction at all. He is on both sides of the argument. He also discusses that robots are not able to perform tasks like we are. Robots can only perform explicit knowledge, or acts that require step by step knowledge, they are not good at act of tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge means it is difficult to transfer from one person to another, but more of a
The two programs that will be discussed are Computer Aided Design or CAD for architects and the use of navigation for everyday travelers. The case for the use of CAD is very straight forward. It is far more efficient than drawing by hand. Allows 3-D models to be very easily as well as allowing the creation ideas that were not possible before CAD. This also makes sharing plans with others easier. It does automatic measurements and can run simulations and calculations for the building itself. Carr states that the use of CAD can have consequences as well. It narrows our perspective and causes a loss of creativity that would not happen if it were hand drawn. It would also degrade one’s talent for drawing because they would be doing it a lot less. He says that since CAD has less friction it means less creativity. A similar case is made for the use of navigation. It requires less route planning and effort. Greatly decreases the chances of becoming lost in an unknown area as well as creating a more efficient travel method and frictionless travel. Carr says that the friction actually helps keep the human mind involved in travel and makes us more aware of our surroundings. Using navigation causes a degeneration of navigational skills. It was sated that people who use GPS more often have a higher chance of developing dementia. Carr
Human centered technology is built around humans after an evaluation of what humans do best and incorporate a computer to do the parts that they are not so good at. This creates a division of labor between them while keeping people engaged in the task. This keeps humans at the top of the bell shaped curve where Carr states we should be. While technology centered technology is created so there is no need for any human interaction. They are built without the human in mind and are created to be flawless and replace humans completely. These machines are faster, more efficient, help generate more profit than a human ever could. It also allows technology to advance farther. If it has all these benefits, then why not only build technology centered machines? That is for two reasons. One is automation bias. If the machine is doing everything without supervision, how is anyone going to know if a mistake is made. We would just trust the machine and assume it will not make any mistakes ever. The second reason is because perfection, or as Carr calls it, flawlessness is truly impossible. “Flawlessness, though, remains an ideal that can never be achieved. Even if a perfect automated system could be designed and built, it would still operate in an imperfect world” (156). Just because the machine is without fault does not mean all machines that it works with are. Humans are