First up on the Scramble today, writer and thinker Nicholas Carr, whose new book, "The Glass Cage" is about our blind surrender to automation. Most tellingly about the way we surrender (unthinkingly) control to sophisticated computer tools.
You'll hear for instance, the story of a luxury cruise ship that ran aground on a sand bar because the GPS was spitting out wrong information and the entire crew ignored visual evidence that should have been a dead giveaway.
Sometimes it has more dire consequences. In 2009, an Air France jet crashed because the pilot froze at the controls when he was forced to land the plane without autopilot. After years of pilots off-loading their once well-honed technical skill to automation, this pilot could no longer rely on them when needed.
At what point does man become the servant of the machine?
Next up, John Dankosky and I huddle on the air about last minute developments in the current hard fought Connecticut election.
Lastly, been to the movies lately? Anything in particular keeping you away? Would you pay a little bit more in ticket price for the peace of mind that other seat occupants would not disturb your experience.
Leave your comments below, email us at colin@wnpr.org or tweet us @wnprcolin.
GUESTS:
- Nicholas Carr writes about technology and culture and is the author of several books including "The Shallows," a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and most recently "The Glass Cage: Automation and Us"
- John Dankosky is the host of “Where We Live” and the news director at WNPR
- Chris Osterndorf is a freelance writer in L.A. who wrote, "How To Fix the American Movie Theater" for The Daily Dot
SONGS:
- "Automation" by Allan Sherman
- "Good Luck Back" by Joseph Visconti
- "Going To The Movies" by Bob Schneider & The Rainbow Kids
