Panel Discussion Cognitive Engineering: Will They Know Our Name When We Are 40?

Abstract

This panel discussion will examine the societal awareness of cognitive engineering today. Cognitive engineering celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018 at the HFES annual meeting. Still, some would say that cognitive engineering is not as well-known as it should be, and that it is applied in an ad hoc manner in the many high-stakes, high-risk technology modernization efforts where it would be useful. As technology advances proliferate for sharp end of the spear decision makers, we are at risk of catastrophic results if CE remains in the shadows; these results are arguably emerging on a daily basis. Each panelist will describe, from their vantage point, CE’s state of the art today, thoughts on barriers to acceptance and application, and how they envision we act towards a future in 2028 in which cognitive engineers engage systematically in complex systems’ development.