Technology: Master or Slave?

ORP 2010
Every one of us uses dozens or even hundreds of different types of technical equipment at work and during leisure time. With the help of technology we are able to do things that were earlier impossible and can fulfil our needs of Maslow's hierarchy. However, we are forced to maintain systems, pay maintenance costs, and avoid errors which might take a lot of our time. In the future it may be essential to take into account that working with technology can also increase different mental symptoms, insecurity and frustration among workers. In addition, the effects of the vulnerability of high technology, time pressure and total time management on well-being at work are not yet sufficiently discussed. The role of technology should be slave rather than master.
Palabras Clave: 
Usability; Technology; Ergonomics
Autor principal: 
Venla
Räisänen
Coautores: 
Rauno
Pääkkönen


Räisänen, Venla

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Occupational Safety Management Aapistie 1 / FI-90220 OULU / FINLAND+358 30 474 6017venla.raisanen@ttl.fiPääkkönen, RaunoFinnish Institute of Occupational Health Physical Factors and Technical Solutions PL 486/ FI-33101 TAMPERE / FINLAND+358 30 474 8638rauno.paakkonen@ttl.fi

ABSTRACT                                                                                                                                

ABSTRACT                                                                                                                                

Every one of us uses dozens or even hundreds of different types of technical equipment at work and during leisure time. With the help of technology we are able to do things that were earlier impossible and can fulfil our needs of Maslow's hierarchy. However, we are forced to maintain systems, pay maintenance costs, and avoid errors which might take a lot of our time. In the future it may be essential to take into account that working with technology can also increase different mental symptoms, insecurity and frustration among workers. In addition, the effects of the vulnerability of high technology, time pressure and total time management on well-being at work are not yet sufficiently discussed. The role of technology should be slave rather than master.

Keywords

Usability, Technology, Ergonomics

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

A Finnish study tried to find the connections between mental symptoms and the use of desktop, portable or minicomputers (communicators and hand-held computers), mobile phones, and background information such as age and gender in the Finnish working-age population. It was a cross-sectional study, and a questionnaire was sent to 15 000 working-age (18–65) Finns. In all data, the use of desktop computers was related to mental symptoms. However, the results of our data are not highly reliable, as the non-response rate was over 50% (1-2).

Usually, we do not analyse how we use our time. Swedish physicist, Bodil Jönsson has suggested a concept of settling time that we all need when preparing and correcting devices outside the actual effective work phase of a machine (3). Much equipment now also has all kinds of pre-warning systems that give us this information but still allows us to work with these devices.

The purpose of this paper is to start a discussion on how we could maintain our best qualities when using technology, and how to maintain our health when faced with the uncertainty caused by technical problems.

How to Survive in a Technological Jungle?

We have to accept that technical devices are not comprehensive, and their quality can be poor. We should have systems in reserve that can help us when problems arise. This is valid for everyday systems like clocks, electrical devices etc., but also for computers, measurement systems, transportation systems, and cars. We should be aware of the possible technological problems: this way they cannot harm. This also applies to safety systems, in which multiple layers of safety are already in use.

The role of technology in our life should be clarified. It helps us in so many ways but also creates fatigue and exhaustion. The information ergonomics between technology and human being should be constantly improved. The usability properties of equipment part of this development.

We should create a relationship with broken technology systems, and it should be taught from pre-school. The younger generation is probably better equipped in this sense. We should also understand that this is the way in which we can be effective, and reach vast, new information instantly, which helps us create a huge information society on earth.

Nevertheless, it may be essential in the future to take into account that working with computers can increase workers’ mental symptoms, and it is important to monitor their mental health.

REFERENCES

  • 1. L. Korpinen  and R. Pääkkönen, Mental symptoms and the use of  of  new technical equipment. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics (JOSE) 15(2009):4, 385400.
  • 2. L. Korpinen and R. Pääkkönen, SelfReport of Physical Symptoms Associated With Using Mobile Phones and Other Electrical Devices. Bioelectromagnetics 2009, 30(2009), 431437
  • 3. B.Jönsson: Tio tankar om tid. Brombergs bokförlag 2002. [ín Swedish].