FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF MAN–MACHINE SYSTEMS: HISTORY AND TRENDS

Abstract

The field of man-machine systems - the analysis and synthesis of systems in which both human and machine interact closely - is a young and barely recognized discipline with an unrelenting array of new challenges. Following a brief review of history and highlights, this paper will characterize some current trends which have profound implications: (1) The removal of the human element up (“super”) and away (“tele”) from direct and local physical interaction with the process or product; (2) analytical engagement with systems having multiple decision-makers with partially overlapping databases and multi-incompatible objectives; (3) a new acceptance of reported mental events (as contrasted to physically observable behavior) and fuzzy relations (as constrasted to exclusive-set probablistic events); and (4) an emerging equivalence and transformability relation between computer-based decision aids and normative models of human performance. All of these have been driven, for reasons to be mentioned, by the computer in its various forms as automatic controller and decision aid or expert system.