Carr warns of impoverished expertise – Computer Sweden

Nicholas Carr believes that we are in for a passive role and left too much responsibility to the computers.

The companies have been dependent on automated decision support and predictive analytics. The result is that important skills are disappearing. It believes Nicholas Carr. Occupational categories in which expertise is likely to be drained, according to him pilots, economists and health professionals.

– Automation has always existed, from the first developed stone tools and throughout the Industrial Revolution . But there has been a balance of skills losses and gains with new tools, he says to IDG News.

Now there IT tools that can take over the tasks . This is particularly true psychomotor tasks, such as driving cars. Machine learning and predictive algorithms allows continuous collection and analysis, and automated forecasting and decision.

In the foreseeable future Whilst maintaining human involvement in the processes. Computers can not take over a professional drivers all duties and passenger aircraft can not be flown without pilots.

– But we has left over too much responsibility on the computers. Those who were experts end up in a passive role, where they follow instructions.

The danger is that skills eventually disappear and that it leads to unnecessary mistakes committed.

The technology prevents the skills from developing. It is no longer possible to practice on practical tasks and thereby achieve higher levels of knowledge.

– We see sign that a too narrow focus on automation to achieve efficiency gains. Toyota Motor has started replacing robots in Japanese factories with people, with craft skills. Although the company is at the forefront, as a pioneer in automation and robotics and manufacturing, they have had some quality problems, with many recalled vehicles.

For Toyota quality problems have become a problem not only for business but for the whole company’s culture.

– Merely focus on efficiency and automation can hinder the quality work in the long term because you do not have the same genuine focus on the human handicraft work, says Nicholas Carr.