Towards a New Mindset for Interaction Design—Understanding Prerequisites for Successful Human–Machine Cooperation Using the Example of Food Production

Advances in technology and digitalization offer huge potential for improving the performance of production systems. However, human limitations often function as an obstacle in realizing these improvements. This article argues that the discrepancy between potential and reality is caused by design features of technologies, also called ironies of automation. To this, the psychological mechanisms that cause these ironies are illustrated by the example of operators of a chocolate wrapping machine, and their effect is explained by basic theories of engineering psychology. This article concludes that engineers need to understand these basic theories and interdisciplinary teamwork is necessary to improve the design of digital technologies and enable harmonious, high-performance human–machine cooperation.