Engage With The World Through Machines: Man-Machine Interaction

We engage with the world through machines and we're drowning in information. Machines and automation will impact how we live and work, and we've had to come up with new ways to engage with each other. As digital technology becomes more prevalent, questions about man-machine interaction come up. It is scary to think, that robots are now able to learn, chat and even work alongside us. Scientists believe, that we are living in the dawn of an automated future, and they're right. Take a look at our robots in different industries and their help. We're just getting started.

What Does Man-Machine Interaction Technology Mean?

It means, that we're going to have to learn how to communicate with machines more effectively. In today's workplace, the line between the man and the machine is becoming blurred. There are several different types of man-machine interaction, such as human-automation, machine-human interaction, and machine-automation.

Human-Automation

Human-automation is the most common type of man-machine interaction, and it has been a growing part of our workforce for decades. We have computer systems that assist business owners with bookkeeping, payroll and other non-manual tasks. Many of these systems are designed to work alongside human workers to improve efficiency and quality of work.

Machines don't have emotions, so they're unlikely to ever truly replace human workers. However, they are very good at a few things and they're better at them, than people. They're better at repetitive tasks, they're better at following set procedures and they're better, than people at keeping track of large amounts of data.

Machines and humans coexist in a workplace environment. The lines between the two are not clearly defined and it can be a source of conflict, especially when people don't realize, how much of a machine they're working with. Humans rely on their sense of touch and sight to assist them in workplace tasks. Machines depend on sensors to assist them in the same tasks.

People often resent the idea of working alongside a machine, but they must come to terms with the fact, that machines are going to be a big part of their future. The sooner they accept it, the easier life will be for everyone.

Machine-Human Interaction

Machines can work alongside humans, but they are different from humans in some ways. They are not as emotional, they're not as volatile and they don't experience conflict as often. They follow set rules and procedures without question and that can lead to problems, when trying to communicate with humans.

Machines that work directly with people are called, "chatbots" or "social robots" and they are becoming more popular among both businesses and consumers. Chatbots can converse with people, and they're able to make themselves understood easily. They answer questions, solve problems and offer advice. They're great for getting information from people and they're also good for keeping people up-to-date on current events and happenings.

The downside to chatbots is that they are predictable and lack a sense of unpredictability. They are good at doing one task, and they don't do well at anything else. They aren't able to learn from their mistakes, they can't improve and they are very dull in comparison to humans.

Machines and humans work together, but they do so without the communication, that occurs with humans. There are still lines of communication, just not as clearly defined as with humans.

Machine-Automation

Machines can now work independently. They can do tasks, that people used to be able to do only after years of training. Many people believe, that machines will eventually be able to do all of the work, that people do and they'll have all of the luxuries, that people take for granted. The question is: In an automated world, who will make the decisions?

We are currently living in a world, where people make the decisions, and they always had the upper hand. The world is run by people and people will always have the upper hand. The machines might work alongside us, they might be under us, but we will always control the upper hand.

What Are The Benefits Of Man-Machine Interaction?

Human-machine interaction allows us to expand our capabilities as people. A workplace with only machines would be a dull place in which to work. Having people around to work with brings a certain feeling of comfort and security to an otherwise uncertain future.

People who have had only machines for work tend to be restless and bored. They're always looking for new ways to improve their working conditions and they're always trying to find a way to take control of their working machines. Humans are opposites of that. They're more accepting of their situations, and they spend a great deal of time trying to understand and appreciate the machines around them.

Machines are only as good as the humans, who control them. If the machine-controller has a strong sense of purpose and a desire to improve the quality of their work, then the machine can accomplish great things. If not, then the machine will probably be mediocre at best and it will certainly not live up to the potential, that it was given.

The Future Of Man-Machine Interaction Technology

Future advancements in machine technology will be even more dramatic, than the improvements we've already seen. With the developments in Artificial Intelligence, we are likely to see machinery in the workplace, that is almost indistinguishable from the capabilities of the human mind.

Machinery, that can think for itself will be able to solve problems, that would normally stump a human workforce and the tasks, that it is given will be far more difficult for a machine to accomplish, therefore requiring more intelligent humans to oversee the machinery to keep it performing safely.

Machinery, that is given a set of pre-defined instructions will be able to follow those instructions without the need of constant supervision. However, the machine may not be able to think outside of those instructions and that could lead to problems.

Machinery, that learns as it goes along will learn through experience and it will be able to make decisions based on that experience. However, a machine that learns differently from one instance to the next will be unpredictable. There will be no telling how it will respond to a certain situation, and this type of machine will therefore require constant monitoring.

What Happens When Machines Become Experts?

Machinery will be able to accomplish tasks, that were previously thought to be reserved for the human mind. This will have a large impact on the types of work, that humans do. There will be a large amount of pressure on businesses to automate as much as possible and the types of jobs, that are available will be vastly different, than what we have now. The question remains: will humans be able to adapt to these changes?

It is possible, that humanity as a whole will not be able to adapt to these changes. Some people fear, that the amount of change, that is coming is so great, that it could spell the end of the world as we know it. That is a possibility, though it is unlikely. It is more likely, that the human race will simply have to change and in order to do that, we will need to find a way to communicate and work better together with machines.