A number of Western countries such as the United States, Britain and France have been waging war continuously since the ‘terrorist’ attacks of 11 September 2001. Although these wars have re...

Humanitarian violence: how Western airmen kill and let die in order to make live

Effectiveness of personalized air curtain in reducing exposure to airborne cough droplets

Drone warfare is the most emblematic manifestation of so-called remote warfare. And yet, how ‘remote’ is it really? Based on extensive interaction with French drone crews, and interviews conducted in 2020, this article shows how drone warfare is not so new, not so distant, not so different, not so indifferent, and not so riskless. In other words, how distancing is a constant in the history of warfare; how the cliche of the drone pilot killing people between the groceries and the family dinner is a partial reflect of reality; how the videogame-like immersive environment of drone pilots is not that different from the one of modern inhabited aircrafts; how drones contradict the widespread assumption that propensity to killing is proportionate to physical distance from target; and finally how drone warfare is not that riskless, at least compared to its most likely alternatives. Therefore, drone warfare is not that remote.

Not so remote drone warfare

Background: More than a symptom, dyspnoea is an existential experience shaping the lives of those afflicted, particularly when its persistence despite maximal pathophysiological treatments makes it pervasive. It is, however, insufficiently appreciated by concerned people themselves, family members, healthcare professionals and the public (dyspnoea invisibility), limiting access to appropriate care and support. Aim: To provide a better understanding of dyspnoea experiences and its invisibility. Design: Interpretative phenomenological analysis of data collected prospectively through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Setting/Participants: Pulmonary rehabilitation facility of a tertiary care university hospital; 11 people (six men, five women) with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (stages 3 and 4 of the 4-stage international GOLD classification) admitted for immediate post-exacerbation rehabilitation. Results: We identified several types of dyspnoea invisibility depending on temporality and interlocutors: (1) invisibility as a symptom to oneself; (2) invisibility as a symptom to others; (3) invisibility as an experience that cannot be shared; (4) invisibility as an experience detached from objective measurements; (5) invisibility as an experience that does not generate empathic concern. The notion of invisibility was present in all the identified experiential dimensions of dyspnoea. It was seen as worsening the burden of the disease and as self-aggravating through self-isolation and self-censorship. Conclusions: The study confirmed that dyspnoea invisibility is a reality for people with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It shows dyspnoea invisibility to be a multifaceted burden. Future research should aim at identifying individual and collective measures to overcome dyspnoea invisibility.

‘You can’t feel what we feel’: Multifaceted dyspnoea invisibility in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease examined through interpretative phenomenological analysis

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) promises to transform jobs and working conditions through the implementation of unprecedented human-machine interaction modes. As the operator working in these new settings, known as the Operator 4.0, is a relatively recent concept, and although technological developments are expected to support workers and require higher labor skills, the risks and health impacts resulting from these changes remain underexplored. This systematic review aims to (i) systematize literature findings on how workers are perceived and participate in I4.0 work systems; (ii) identify the main technological changes driven by I4.0; and (iii) instigate discussion regarding the impacts these changes may have for workers and the sustainability of work systems. Following a systematic review approach using the PRISMA protocol, the articles were organized into two main analysis axes: the technical changes brought about by I4.0, and the representation of the human worker within these new work settings. The findings reveal that a techno-centered approach still seems to be dominant in guiding the implementation of I4.0 models; secondly, as a consequence, the social dimensions of work tend to remain as residual issues, overshadowed by the promises related with technology (e.g., productivity, efficiency); finally, the representation of the Operator 4.0 remains blurry, as he/she is perceived as gender neutral, skillful, and perfectly fit for work, assuring the functioning (and compensating for the limits) of these systems. While I4.0 promises safer and more productive workplaces, issues related to employment conditions, emerging risks and health impacts become more prominent when analyzed from an activity-centered perspective. In terms of future research, a more heuristic analysis could be achieved through a participatory and work-centered approach and following a gender perspective. This way, visibility could be conferred to another side of I4.0, thus guaranteeing conditions for the sustainable development of these work situations.

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Exploring the status of the human operator in Industry 4.0: A systematic review

Question addressed In contrast with pain, dyspnoea is not visible to the general public who lack the corresponding experiential baggage. We tested the hypotheses that the generalised use of face masks to fight SARS-CoV2 dissemination could change this and sensitise people to respiratory health. Methods General population polling (1012-person panel demographically representative of the adult French population –quota sampling method–; 517 women, 51%). 860 (85%) answered “no” to “treated for a chronic respiratory disease” (“respiratory healthy”, RH) and 152 “yes” (“respiratory disease”, RD). 14% of RH respondents reported having a close family member treated for a chronic respiratory disease (RH-family+ and RH-family−). Respondents described mask-related attitudes, beliefs, inconveniencies, dyspnoea, and changes in their respiratory health vision. Results Compliance with masks was high (94.7%). Dyspnoea ranked first among mask inconveniencies (RD 79.3%, RH 67.3%, p=0.013). “Air hunger” was the main sensory dyspnoea descriptor. Mask-related dyspnoea was independently associated with belonging to RH-family+ (Odds Ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.85 [1.16–2.98]) and removing masks to improve breathing (OR 5.21 [3.73–7.28]). It was negatively associated with considering masks effective to protect others (OR]: 0.42 [0.25–0.75]). Half the respondents were more concerned with their respiratory health since wearing masks; 41% reported better understanding patients’ experiences. Answer to the question Wearing protective face masks leads to the mass discovery of breathing discomfort. It raises the public9s awareness of what respiratory diseases involve and sensitises to the importance of breathing. These data should be used as the fulcrum of respiratory-health-oriented communication actions.

Lifting dyspnoea invisibility: COVID-19 face masks, the experience of breathing discomfort, and improved lung health perception - a French nationwide survey.

Dans un espace domine par la circulation des signes, ou l'ennemi n'apparait plus que sous la forme d'un symbole sur un ecran, comment l'action de guerre parvient-elle encore a se distinguer ? Qu'en est-il de l'intelligence pratique des hommes, qui permet de se distancer de la realite produite par les ordinateurs, des lors que dominent les figures du surveillant et du gestionnaire ? Si le corps reste bien present, il l'est surtout aux machines et de moins en moins au monde, au sens moral du terme. Ce moment, charge de nouveaux perils, offre pourtant l'occasion d'interroger et de reevaluer les conditions a partir desquelles les hommes et les machines parviennent a produire quelque chose comme un monde commun. Alors que l'hybridation des hommes et des machines est le plus souvent abordee sous un angle technologique et a la seule lumiere de criteres de performance, la parole est ici donnee a ceux qui habitent les machines, pilotes d'avions de chasse et de drones.

Dans la peau d'un pilote de chasse : le spleen de l'homme-machine

This communication aims to present a cross-perspective – robotics, industrial engineering, sociology and ergonomics – research project experience dealing with development of collaborative robotics in SMEs. Our conviction is that Industry 4.0 must imply: (1) “departitioning” of disciplines involved in the design of work situations and (2) construction of hybrid approaches for understanding and transforming work. In this communication, we propose to relate such an experience on the basis of a research project - funded by the French National Agency for Research (ANR), and focused on transformation of French Small and Middle Companies (SMC’s) in relation to introduction of Collaborative Robotics. Collaborative Robotics is of particular interest for us as it embeds promises and pitfalls of articulation between technologies and work. However, these promises may be discussed and tempered by confronting them to actual design issues, work organization and transformation of work management.

Caroline Moricot

Papers

Lifting dyspnoea invisibility: COVID-19 face masks, the experience of breathing discomfort, and improved lung health perception - a French nationwide survey.

Dans la peau d'un pilote de chasse : le spleen de l'homme-machine

Collaborative robotics and industry 4.0: an engineering, sociology and activity-centered ergonomics cross-experience