Oct. 24 Museum of Flight program looks at the pros and cons of "smart" technologies
 
SEATTLE, Oct. 15, 2009--Automated systems make airplanes easier to fly, trains run on time and cars run more efficiently. They can be as simple as an automatic light dimmer or as complex as an autopilot that kicks-in when it "thinks" there is trouble. But can automation be too smart for its own good, leaving humans helplessly out of control when the electronic brain makes a bad choice? Boeing Associate Technical Fellow Victor Riley delivers a fascinating look at our high tech world and the pros and cons of automation. The Oct. 24 program is at 2 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater, and is free with admission to The Museum of Flight and to Museum members.
 
 
Victor Riley is an Associate Technical Fellow in Boeing Flight Deck, Crew Operations/Integration. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He spent 19 years in human factors research at Honeywell, and then spent five years as a consultant before coming to Boeing in 2007. In addition to aviation, he has worked in human factors research for railroads, nuclear power, residential, and space systems. He has published over 40 research papers, journal articles, and book chapters in the areas of automation, design methods and tools, and advanced flight deck concepts.

Image: Victor Riley. Courtesy Victor Riley.
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The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 (on Boeing Field between downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport.) The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for active military, $7.50 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org.
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