Embodiment may reduce risk awareness[3-10]
“A body schema works on a subconscious level. It registers shape and posture of the
body(without coming to awareness). It
makes a record of the momentary relative disposition of one’s own body parts”. “Prothestic devices can be absorbed in the
body schema. Just as a hammer in the
carpenter’s hand is incorporated into his body schema, any virtual body part or
interface(keyboard, mouse, joystick) can become part of the schema in a temporary
or longlasting way[1]…”
While
embodiment eases systems control by the user it has some disadvantages and
embodiment should be used carefully.
Walking down
stairs is a simple example of embodiment.
The instrument used is the stairs.
The subconscious automatic process is stepping down the steps of the
stairs. We do not think what to do while
we climb down the stairs. The interface
with the stairs is the steps. The stairs
has become part of our body. They are
embodied by us.
A person
climbs down and up many times in his/her life.
But there are many examples of people falling or stumbling on the
stairs. The reason is; the subconscious
process fails for some reason.
Subconscious processes are not flexible. They can not change according to the
context. They can not handle unusual
situations. Stumbling on the stairs is often caused by an irregular step that is not
as high as the the others.
Subconscious processes are prone to be
interrupted easily if one concentrates/focuses on something else consciously. Focusing on something excludes all other
processes hence stops automatic processes related to embodiment.
There are a
number of situations that embodiment may hurt awareness:
1-
Conscious awareness may be required in risky
situations. Embodiment gives a false sense of safety which stops conscious
awareness.
2-
Embodiment may reduce risk awareness. Even when everything looks in order-OK the
large systems operator has to keep a sense of negative event possibilities so
that his reaction time to respond emergency is short. Risk awareness may be automatic by
subconscious or manual by conscious processing.
Even when risk awareness is a subconscious process embodiment steals its
resources. Embodiment does not have the
ability to pass the control on to risk awareness either.
3-
Embodiment reduces situation awareness. A general sense of everything going on OK in
a shared environment fosters embodiment’s automatic processing which hinders
routine processes of situation checking.
“Consciousness can relate two separate conscious events. Any conscious stimulus may serve as a signal
for any other event. The unconscious
processes are closed boxes that can not relate.
This requires the performer to manage unconscious events and conscious
events at a higher level of consciousness.[2] “
Overconfidence is not a simple feeling of
‘bravery’ that you can identify easily.
Even a coward person may behave with overconfidence caused by simple
embodiment.
REFERENCES:
[1]Carolien HERMANS, 2002, Embodiment: the flesh and bones of my
body.
[2] Josh
McDermott, Global Workspace Theory: Consciousness Explained, Harvard Brain,
1995.
[3] Saral Ali R.: The
Role of Interface in Embodiment
[4] Saral Ali R.: Arayüzün
Vücut-Bulmada İşlevi
[5] Saral Ali R.: Vücut
Benliği Besler
[6] Saral Ali R.: Body
neurishes self
[7] Saral Ali R.: Vücut-buluş
nedirl
[8] Saral Ali R.: What
is embodiment?
[9] Saral Ali R.: VÜCUTBULUŞ VE İNSAN MAKİNA ETKİLEŞİMİ
[10] Saral Ali R.: EMBODIMENT
AND MAN – MACHINE INTERACTION
