Augmentation

Augmentation, in the specific sense developed by Douglas Engelbart, is the extension of human cognitive and collaborative capabilities through the design of appropriate tools, practices, and organizational structures. It is distinct from automation, which replaces human effort with machine effort; augmentation amplifies human effort while keeping the human agent at the center of the decision loop. Engelbart's framework treats tools not as standalone devices but as elements of a larger socio-technical system that includes training, conventions, and institutional support. The concept has influenced fields from computer science to organizational design, though it remains less studied than automation because it does not fit the industrial model of labor replacement.