ABSTRACT
The discussion of technological realizations of system adaptation exemplifies a category of discussions in the field of computer science concerning two basic, opposing paradigms. First, there is the active paradigm expressing the attempt to make the systems as "intelligent" and "autonomous" as possible, to delegate more and more of users' tasks to the machine, and to relieve users of much of the cognitive effort of having to match the system's features with their work requirements. Second, there is the passive paradigm, which focuses on using human problem-solving potential and assigns to technology only the role of a flexible tool to support human action. Because this chapter is concerned with adaptation to the real dynamics of the world of work, the prerequisite is close coupling between technological development and work design. Before examining these two technological approaches, the chapter explains a few basic structural characteristics of system adaptation.
