[xophe]

>>But the people that had to carry out the scheduled work took a while to get used to the idea, as they didn't like not knowing why they were doing certain things.

There's some real Asimovesque worship of technology here. Without sounding like a Luddite (computers are good at scheduling), this is scientifically scary.

[saraid216]

> Strike the first rune upon the engine's casing employing the chosen wrench. Its tip should be anointed with the oil of engineering using the proper incantation when the auspices are correct. Strike the second rune upon the engine's casing employing the arc-tip of the power-driver. If the second rune is not good, a third rune may be struck in like manner to the first. This is done according to the true ritual laid down by Scotti the Enginseer. A libation should be offered. If this sequence is properly observed the engines may be brought to full activation by depressing the large panel marked "ON".

[omegaworks]

Post apocalyptic technology worship: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller :)

The world needs more of this stuff.

[Bluestrike2]

Not really. The article isn't very clear on the point, but the workers always know why they're performing task X--let's say, replacing damaged track X--because the reason is the same as before. That's never changed. What they're apparently confused about is the prioritization of task X over task Y because "the machine" is now involved. It's not a case of being told to bang a wrench against a pipe in a random tunnel and then wondering why.

In a lot of ways, it's not that dissimilar than it was before. Why did their supervisors prioritize one task over the other in the past? It's the same thing, only now, it's a more objective algorithm that's handling the tasking. Assuaging these fears (if that's the right word) is almost a non-issue in this context as even the most basic of explanations can solve the problem. I fail to understand how this could be interpreted as scary. Might you elaborate a bit?

[TeMPOraL]

I don't know. It's not worship if it actually works better for reasons that are understandable. I see it more as a fear of new things, all too common in every industry.