Intelligent Systems

This chapter addresses the ways in which human intelligence in routine and partly routine jobs can be augmented rather than replaced. The design of aids should begin with defining the user experience, proceed to designing the user interface to support this experience, and then focus on the enabling technologies. Intelligent aids should be considered for enhancing human performance; the extent of success will depend on the domain of application and the potential performance of the aid. Intelligent aids are inherently model based, drawing upon symbolic logic, mathematical paradigms, and/or statistical models; understanding the underlying modeling assumptions is key to establishing confidence in and trust of such aids. Intelligent systems technology has much promise but also many perils that warrant attention; its prospects depend on well-reasoned strategies for development and adoption.