Automated Informational Flows: Why Human Intervention is Still Necessary

Abstract

The field of my talk shall limit itself to the social production of production technology. In my mind, the system of technology cannot be separated from its social matrix of production : we shall demonstrate this by explaining how the preconcieved images that designers have of the worker's labour and of Man's place in regards to matter clearly show through the main characteristics of automated production. We shall then attempt to explain these images through the social position of the designers of technology and by underlining the way production is characterized by the dissociation between operators who arc interchangeable and the command and control of the process of transformation that is kept aloof of the shopfloor. Through the concept of socio-technical steps it is possible Lo formalize the social preconditions of the production of technology.Thus, the links between computering and capitalism can also be inscribed in the same approach. The specificities of computering are here put forth through the issues of the nature of the communication and its memoprospective function. Which in turn leads us to consider the social nature of information.