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Showing Original Post only (View all)Why Self-Checkout Is and Has Always Been the Worst [View all]
Automation is often presented as an inexorably advancing force, whether its ushering in a threat to jobs or a promise of increased leisure or larger profits. Were made to imagine the robots rising, increasingly mechanized systems of production, more streamlined modes of everyday living. But the truth is that automation technology and automated systems very often fail. And even when they do, they nonetheless frequently wind up stranded in our lives.
For every automated appliance or system that actually makes performing a task easierdishwashers, ATMs, robotic factory arms, saythere seems to be another oneself-checkout kiosks, automated phone menus, mass email marketingthat actively makes our lives worse.
Ive taken to calling this second category, simply, shitty automation.
Shitty automation usually, but not always, comes about when new user-facing technology is adopted by a company or institution for the ostensible reason of minimizing labor and cutting costs. Nobody likes wading through an interminable phone menu to try to address a suspect charge on a phone billliterally, everyone would rather speak with a customer service rep. But thats the system were stuck with because a corporation decided that the inconvenience to the user is well worth the savings in labor costs.
https://gizmodo.com/why-self-checkout-is-and-has-always-been-the-worst-1833106695