Making autonomic computing systems accountable: the problem of human computer interaction

The vision of autonomic computing raises fundamental questions about how we interact with computer systems. In this paper, we outline these questions and propose some strategies for addressing them. In particular, we examine the problem of how we may make autonomic computing systems accountable in interaction for their behaviour. We conclude that there is no technological solution to this problem. Rather, it calls for designers of autonomic computing systems to engage with users so as to understand at first hand the challenges of being a user.