Man-Machine Interaction: Communicating with Computers

Risk Group Founder, Jayshree Pandya PhD discusses “Man-Machine Interaction: Communicating with Computers” with Joaquin Gomez Moya CEO of Pro-Asistech based in Spain. Introduction Connected computers, internet, information- communications networks and digitization capability are important components of the digital global age that brings each nation: its government, industries, organizations and academia (NGIOA) high socio-economic value as they add towards its digital transformation, progress and prosperity. While the internet is currently at the center of global computer-communication infrastructures; next-generation network technologies, architectures and protocols are also essential for further progress and development in CGS. Such advances are necessary to overcome the current limitations brought on by the gaps in innovations in technologies and processes that would be essential to add new capabilities for the digital global age and the coming tomorrow of space age. Irrespective of cyberspace, geospace or space (CGS), we the humans have always explored our ecosystem in which we live or exist. It is the environment of the ecosystem surrounding us that pushes each generation at times of the need for new ideas, innovations, discoveries, technologies and processes to occur in our life time—thereby pushing the boundaries of our very potential and existence. The digital global age has brought us to a similar juncture—where the information, communication, digitization technologies; along with the rapid advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, natural language processing and other great innovations that are going even further in its goals and reach, are pushing the very boundaries of imagination, innovation and inner drive. Rich in data, potential and possibilities; these ideas, imaginations and innovations are exploring and redefining the very foundations of the human relationship and interaction with the current and emerging technologies. The on-going and emerging technology and process changes are fundamental to each and every one of us across nations as it affects the very fundamentals of how we operate as humans surrounded and transformed by technology, but also as nations and the human society overall. Having said that, as traditional computers give way to tablets, smartphones, internet of things and more, the need for interactive communication between, we the humans and different forms of computers is becoming essential. We are at a juncture where different forms of computers and machines are not just plain receivers of human instructions but collaborators, that are able to harness a full range of natural modes: including language, gesture and facial or other expressions that are hands-free and non-visual. This is becoming more important than ever for each individual across nations. Man-Machine Interface: Need A man-machine interface is defined by many as the mediator between computer users (that is humans) and machines (that is computers). It is an inter-connected and integrated system that takes care of the entire communication process (to and fro), and is responsible for the readiness of the machines’: knowledge, data, functionality and accessible information, in a way that is compatible with the communication channels of the human users—and in a way that can translate the user’s actions and input into an readable and understandable instruction form and commands. So, why is there a need for more human-friendly man-machine interface? As increasingly complex man-machine systems, products and services appear across nations in the global market, the necessity for more human friendly man-machine /human-computer interfaces is becoming increasingly more crucial for their operation, utilization, performance and success.