Automation (mechanization)
Automation (from Greek: = self
dictated) is
the implementing of the control of equipment with advanced technology; usually
involving electronic hardware. It is the art of making processes or machines
self-acting or auto-mobile. The word is also used about the technique of making
a device, machine, process or procedure more fully automatic, i.e. substitution
of human labor and human skill with machinery.
Spang-Hanssen (1974) describes how the word "manual" has changed it meaning because of its new opposition to the terms automated and mechanized. Now the meaning "manual" corresponds almost to "human" or "personal" or even "intellectual" or "cerebral". In other connections is "manual" just the opposite of these new meanings. For example, the terms "intellectual work" or "mental work" have traditionally been opposed to "manual work".
Some library and information processes are rather obvious to automate. For example the alphabetical sorting of catalog records in libraries, controlling of lending and recall and so on (cf., library systems).
Other - more "intellectual" processes, such as indexing, classification and information retrieval are more difficult to automate, and it is controversial whether or not an automated process can replace a human being. The theoretical issues involved in this question are in particular debated in relation to Artificial Intelligence (AI). There are always some people, who are more "optimist" concerning the possibility for AI solutions while others are more critical. The "optimism" also changes with the Zeitgeist. For example, the optimism was very strong internationally about 1985, but since then there have generally been a feeling that the AI visions were strongly overrated. Gerard Salton was a pioneer in information science with a life-long strong belief in the superiority of automated solutions such as automatic indexing and information retrieval.
There is not doubt that automated processes - such as Internet search engines - have important functions. The question today is in what ways manual and automated processes supplement each other and whether human beings can still prove that they are worth their salaries. Sometimes, as is the case with machine translation may people often perform better but many applications are not willing to or able to pay for a human translator.
Literature:
Line, M. B. (2006). Forty years of library automation: a personal reflection.
Program-Electronic Library and Information Systems, 40(2) , 118-122.
Spang-Hanssen, H. (1974). Kunnskapsorganisasjon, informasjonsgjenfinning,
automatisering og språk. In: Kunnskapsorganisasjon og
informasjonsgjenfinning. Oslo: Riksbibliotektjenesten, pp. 11–61.
Core Concepts in LIS/Spang_Hanssen_1974.pdf
Saffady, W. (1994). Introduction to Automation for Librarians. 3.ed. Chicago: American Library Association.
See also: Algorithm; Artificial Intelligence; Automatic Indexing; Information retrieval, manually versus automated; Library systems
Birger Hjørland
Last edited: 27-10-2006