Automation and Accountability in Decision Support System Interface Design
Name
Cummings_JTS.pdf
Description
Draft version
Size
140.49 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
be4f149d92cfba7d44298c84e945e36d
Author(s)
Cummings, M. L.
Date Issued
2006
Publisher
Journal of Technology Studies
Abstract
When the human element is introduced into decision support system design, entirely new layers of social and ethical issues emerge but are not always recognized as such. This paper discusses those ethical and social impact issues specific to decision support systems and highlights areas that interface designers should consider during design with an emphasis on military applications. Because of the inherent complexity of socio-technical
systems, decision support systems are particularly vulnerable to certain potential ethical pitfalls that encompass automation and accountability issues. If computer systems diminish a user’s sense of moral agency and responsibility, an erosion of accountability could result. In addition, these problems are exacerbated when an interface is perceived as a legitimate authority. I argue that when developing human computer interfaces for
decision support systems that have the ability to harm people, the possibility exists that a moral buffer, a form of psychological distancing, is created which allows people to ethically distance themselves from their actions.
Subjects
decision support system design
ethics
human computer interfaces
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