Mutual Growth of Human and System in Smarter World

Abstract

This chapter discusses the adaptive human–machine systems in the Smarter World from the viewpoint of systems engineers. In this world, artificial systems will not adapt unilaterally to humans and the environment but grow together with humans. The relationship between artifacts and humans will not be substitution but cooperation. It is inspired by the phenomenon of mutual growth between organisms. The framework of growing systems together with humans is consistent with the ecological approach to system design and human-centered design. The direction of growth is also examined from the viewpoint of the growing phenomenon in nature. Among such phenomena that have not yet been observed in artificial systems, “anti-fragility,” which is originally proposed in economics, is discussed to apply to such artificial systems as physical, social, and information systems. They are summarized as a prediction of the way of designing such anti-fragile mutual growing systems.