Evan Selinger at Wired gives us an interesting look at how the automated communication in our world can go too far and separate us from the value of an act, instead turning it into a regular switch thrown by a perfectly timed computer system. In his words -

We’re observing the emergence of tech that doesn’t just augment our intellect and lives — but is now beginning to automate and outsource our humanity.

It's an interesting look at how technology can separate us and mentions the Pareto efficiency, a theory I had not heard of before but is a very interesting view at how resources are difficult to allocate without someone feeling a negative impact of some form. The article focuses on the BroApp, a system that sends automated love texts to a significant other in order to make her happier and enable the man to spend more time with his "bros".

The argument is that the woman suffers, because her sense of connection if artificially created since he isn't actually thinking of her when these messages are sent. It reminds me of a humorous situation in which a teacher I was working with showed off a dozen roses and said, "My husband sends me flowers every Monday to start the week." Knowing the teacher well, another teacher asked, "Does he actually send this every week?" She agreed that he had set it up automatically with the local florist and was billed to their credit card, but it meant something to her.

Sadly, the final connection was "Wait, isn't he in school? So you're paying for them from your paycheck? Doesn't that mean that you're sending yourself flowers every week?" She stormed off, flowers in hand while we chuckled a bit at the scene. Looking back on it, it's easier to realize the thought meant something to her and she did not want to be reminded that much of it was illusion.

I find the article personally interesting as I start toying with a number of automation apps, Move to add more daily activity, SuperBetter to understand Jane McGonigal's ideas from her Ted Talk, and I've been using If This Then That for some time - though more for technology automation than personal automation. Finding my time filled with errands, home projects, writing and a toddler, automation is an attractive way to both remove some mental overhead and also create a few more opportunities through the day. Whether I would willing cross a line from "helpful to me" to "hurtful to others" remains to be seen, though I hope I won't.

As we move forward towards a future full of Google Now-type machine intelligence services, these systems will become ever more context aware. Will these systems, virtual butlers or secretaries if you will, be allowed to handle love notes, gifts or even online social "liking" or responses? It can happen, but whether it will be beneficial or simply creates a saccharine emotional void will be interesting to experience.

Are any of you using automated systems? Which ones and how are they helping you? Do you perceive any of them capable of harming someone else - even mistakenly?