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Abstract. Over the years, users and operators have experienced many shortcomings
in the performance of their digital systems. More than 30
years ago, researchers indicated that software designers and computer programmers
had to take a major share of the blame for
these deficiencies because they aspired to design solutions that were
free from human imperfection and the need for human involvement:
in other words they were creating systems that had all
of the characteristics of classical Utopias. Today, as technology-centred (and
not user-centred) design persists as the major engineering paradigm and
driving force, the release of ever-increasing quantities of software and
data into user organisations indicates the trend towards creating Utopias
continues. But achieving an effective balance between human beings and
computing so as to achieve more optimal system performance will
require the adoption of the socio-technical concept in which design
and construction needs to be underpinned with an inter-disciplinary science
and engineering base. Since such a 'joined up' base does
not exist, user capability (particularly in unpredicted situations) could be
much at risk in the future. This paper develops some
thoughts and concerns on the pitfalls that can occur in
the pursuit of the automation of large-scale man-machine information systems.
Related topics:
command and control, network centric warfare, art of war, command systems
View first page of "Mills: (Still) Striving for Utopia"
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