| dc.description.abstract | Technological systems are becoming more and more interconnected. At the same time that human activities are becoming more connected to technology. With the merging of these complex systems, systems design takes on a new plane of considerations. The thesis investigates the impact of digitalization on human activities as well as how humans are factored into the design of systems. In order to investigate this, three research questions were posed:
1. What is the background that has led to the phenomenon digital transformation ?
2. How can we factor human interactions into system design?
3. What is the impact of digitalization on human activities?
The questions were investigated through literature studies along with a case analysis of the introduction of autonomous busses in Norwegian cities. The background of digital transformation is presented through a timeline breaking down important milestones and developments. Human factors in systems design is investigated through a look at multiple design paradigms and how they factor humans into the design process. The case study looks at how humans are factored into the plans for introducing autonomous busses as well as how this digitalization of transport affects the users.
The study found that the affect of digitization is permeating through every aspect of human activities, from interactions and communication, to where they live and how they travel. The existing design paradigms factor human interactions through observations of people in real situations along with embracing differing social and cultural biases to gain a broader insight into how different people will interact with a system. Systems designers must embrace the interactions people have with existing digital systems to further understand their interconnections with systems in general. | |
