Automation can negatively impact our situational awareness by:

The selected answer highlights a significant concern in safety and operational efficiency when it comes to automation. Automation can indeed foster a sense of complacency among operators. When systems become automated, individuals may rely too heavily on the technology, leading to a decrease in active monitoring and engagement in the operation. This reduced vigilance can hinder situational awareness, as users may not be as attentive to crucial changes in their environment or the system's performance.

Understanding this dynamic is essential in training operators to maintain a high level of awareness, even when automation is in play. They must continually assess the situation and be prepared to intervene, ensuring that they do not become overly reliant on automated systems. This awareness is vital for maintaining safety and effectively responding to unforeseen challenges.

While improving efficiency and adding complexity could have implications for situational awareness, the direct link to complacency and loss of vigilance makes it a particularly critical aspect to consider. Reducing communication among crew members may also impact situational awareness, but complacency specifically ties directly to the over-reliance on automated processes, making it the more pertinent concern in this context.