Design of Future Things

Chapter 5: Servants of our own Machines

Summary
This chapter analyzes the state of machine automation where machines are able to make certain decisions for the users. According to the author, automation poses a problem to users' freedom in several ways; since it makes them dependent on the technology at hand. Donald Norman gave the example of cars that would drive themselves or would create ad hoc networks in order to inform other cars about different events. At the end of the chapter, the author also discusses certain problems that arise from automation.

Discussion

At first I thought the article was exaggerating a little about the amount of automation present in new technologies (particularly in cars where the author places the most focus). However, after a little research I realized that the technologies mentioned in the chapter, like the camera that reads a driver's eye, are currently being implemented. I thought the part where the car is called into court was very funny, yet a little frightening.