Week 4 Reflection--Man and Machine
Norman’s thoughts in “Being Analog” raise some interesting points regarding how our world and selves are being reshaped by digital technology. He points out the obvious: Man = imperfect. While we think we are rational, logical beings, the fact is we are NOT. I disagree with his premise that “machines should adapt itself to human requirements.” In the man-machine relationship, man is still in control. Man created machine to supplement our deficiencies and although there is some element of evolving ourselves around the constraints of technology, we still have the power to capitalize on its benefits and make necessary changes. I think we need to use the machine on the machine’s terms. We are the ones that programmed it to be that way in the first place, so whose terms are they REALLY?
I’m amazed at the simplistic yet complex genius of modern “Internet Architecture” outlined by Zuckerman and McLaughlin. The fact that man had the forethought and capacity to design such a dynamic structure demonstrates our creativity – but also shows that we need something that is “precise” and “undistractible” to complement our inability to achieve what technology can achieve for us.
What are some ways that we have changed what we value in employees due to new technology? How are the values different than before the technology revolution?
What are some positive and negative implications of the evolving man/machine relationship?
How do you think AI will further change our society and the man/machine relationship? What are some potential costs/benefits of AI?
I’m amazed at the simplistic yet complex genius of modern “Internet Architecture” outlined by Zuckerman and McLaughlin. The fact that man had the forethought and capacity to design such a dynamic structure demonstrates our creativity – but also shows that we need something that is “precise” and “undistractible” to complement our inability to achieve what technology can achieve for us.
What are some ways that we have changed what we value in employees due to new technology? How are the values different than before the technology revolution?
What are some positive and negative implications of the evolving man/machine relationship?
How do you think AI will further change our society and the man/machine relationship? What are some potential costs/benefits of AI?
posted by EstherYu @ 2:51 PM
4 Comments:
At 5:08 PM,
LdV said…
I think that some ways in which we have changed what we value in employees due to new technology, are speed and efficiency, but not necessarily correctness (i.e. spelling, because that is easily fixable by machine), a working knowledge of computers and different computer programs, and the ability to find needed information. Perhaps you’ll disagree with me, but I believe that employers are not necessarily looking for someone who has mastered all skills for the job, or has stored in memory a massive amount of information, but rather people who can easily learn skills or know where and how to find the information. Other values that may have changed are less of a need for human to human interaction skills, because these days much communication is mediated. A person does not necessarily need good social skills to communicate via e-mail, as they might once have needed, when e-mail and the internet did not exist in the work place.
At 1:08 PM,
mia said…
Hey there Esther, you mentioned AI in your blog and we talked about it a little in class on Tuesday. I find it interesting because of what we have seen in the media. I do not think what we see in the movies will be happening anytime soon because as someone mentioned in class; we ultimately have power over the technology. I want technology to advance and become smarter, quicker, and more efficient, but I would never want it to think like we do. We need the technology to be perfect because we are not. I think there is a line that should be drawn on how intelligent the technology should become and we need to be sure that we know where that line should be drawn.
At 7:52 PM,
Ashley said…
Hi Esther
I think you’ve made a really good point about being in control of technology. I do not think that we really want the man-machine relationship to evolve to a relationship that is more like man-man. That seems like it would defeat the purpose of creating the machine in the first place. Like you said the idea is to have the computer or technology to help where humans are deficient. If we develop them to be more like us then that takes out the simple, clear logic that we use them for. Yeah they do cause frustration, but if they were more humanized, they still would then too! You bring up another good point about whose terms the technology is on, ours! I really cannot foresee any technological computer takeover, though Hollywood has seen this vision! :)
At 4:47 PM,
kenji said…
Esther...Why do I get the feeling you are trying to imply male=imperfect instead of human being=imperfect? Well, I agree with both as long as you admit women are just as imperfect as us men. But besides that, I agree with everything you are saying about us as humans being irrational, illogical, and that in the man-machine relationship we are still in control. We should be, how could we not be, unless what happened in the Terminator movies becomes reality. If humans created it, theres no reason humans can't "destroy" it. Like you said, we programmed it, its on our terms, so we ultimately have control. Right?
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