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This article validates one my key beefs with "big data" - databases (like chexsystems in the article) remove slack from the system. Humans need slack and only
by Amadou 13y ago
This article validates one my key beefs with "big data" - databases (like chexsystems in the article) remove slack from the system. Humans need slack and only humans can provide slack.
In the short term that may seem like a good idea, removing slack appears to increase efficiency. But in the long run it is socially destructive -- we are all people, not just numbers and reducing us to numbers ignores much of the realities of life. When you can't take into account the realities of life, then the imperfect systems that the databases model as perfect fall apart.
- danmaz74 13y agoI remember reading about this in the book "About Face" about interaction design at least 10 years ago. It is a problem good interaction designers already care about. I think it's more a problem of upper management understanding that maintaining some slack can be more important than squeezing every last dollar from every transaction.
- fauigerzigerk 13y agoI generally agree with that, but there is a potential downside to it as well. The slack that humans will cut you is not a right, so it can be taken away at will for completely arbitrary or malicious reasons such as stereotypes against particular groups or even because you didn't bribe a particular offcial. I'm still convinced that your point is correct, but it only works in combination with the utmost transparency.