Instructor: Jerzy W Rozenblit
Wed | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM | In Person
As intelligent systems and technologies mature, a shift in the modality of use is occurring, namely, computer-based systems are no longer an assistive extension of the human operator but are an inherent part of human endeavors. This, on the one hand, leads to augmented human performance, while on the other hand, presents challenges in management of the boundaries between human vs. “machine” control, over- and under-reliance on automation, and social impacts such as dramatic changes in work paradigms, outsourcing, lack of a skilled labor force, and social interactions. This Honors seminar will explore the evolution of smart systems from fundamental models to the most advanced technologies of today. We will explore the human impact of “ultra-high” technologies on medicine, arts, ethics, and society. Then, we will debate the underlying theme of this class, namely, “how much better off are we?” living in technology-driven universes. We shall attempt to come away with a notion of what defines a sense of personal equilibrium in terms of our interactions with the ubiquitous, computer-based world.