Trapped in The Net:
The Unanticipated Consequences of Computerization
Princeton University Press, 1997: $29.95
This
book examines how the familiar and pervasive productions of computerization
have become embedded in our lives, forcing us to narrow the scope of our
choices, our modes of control, and our experiences with the real world.
Drawing on examples ranging from military command, air traffic control,
and international fund transfers to library cataloging and supermarket
checkouts, Rochlin shows how we are making irreversible and at times harmful
changes in our business, social, and personal lives to comply with the
formalities and restrictions of computers, networks, and information systems.
As databases, fund transfer mechanisms, control systems, and operations are increasingly automated, humans and organizations become more dependent on them; subsequent adaptations to use the new modes more effectively and efficiently lead to a gradual racheting of operational design and tempo to the machine rather than the human who operates it. If what is being operated is a "critical system", such as a hazardous nuclear or chemical process, a modern airliner or air traffic control system, an elaborate network for financial transactions, or a modern and sophisticated military-technical system, the consequences can be serious, extensive, and long-lasting.
For an expanded description and the full text, visit the Princeton University Press books page,
For further information, contact the author at
Energy and Resources Group
310 Barrows Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-3050
or by e-mail at armsis@socrates.berkeley.edu