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Human Factors Cast

Human Factors Cast

Human Factors Cast 425 Episodes Jul 3, 2026

Human Factors Cast explores the human element in our digital world, investigating how psychology, engineering, biomechanics, industrial design, physiology, and anthropometry affect our interaction with technology. Hosted by Nick Roome, Blake Arnsdorff, and Barry Kirby, the podcast takes a deeper look into these sciences.

Episodes

E321 - Let's try that announcement again... Jul 3, 2026 57:09 Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/321Nick Roome and Barry Kirby return live for Human Factors Cast Episode 321 after a month off. The main announcement is that Human Factors Cast has transitioned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation aimed at improving human factors visibility through education, outreach, community, grants, and research on human factors communication, with stated co
E320 - The Human Factors Of Letting AI Cook May 18, 2026 56:45 Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/320Support the show, and the mission of better science communication in Human Factors:Support this PodcastJoin us for episode 320 of Human Factors Cast, recorded live May 15, 2026,. Nick Roome and Barry Kirby share updates including a recap Barry’s EHF conference highlights. They discuss Stanford’s 2026 AI Index and an MIT Tech Review report on agen
E319 - Turns out Space is still a Human Factors Problem Apr 17, 2026 58:11 Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/319This week on the show we discuss Artemis II’s 10-day crewed mission around the Moon as a major milestone and a human factors reality check. From core issues of living and working in Orion’s cramped space—limited privacy, disrupted sleep, fatigue, team dynamics, autonomy, tight workload, and the gap between engineering readiness and human readines
E318 - SXSW 2026 Apr 3, 2026 01:04:35 Episode Link: http://www.humanfactorscast.mediaNews:Human Factors Cast episode 318 (recorded April 2, 2026) - This week, Nick Roome is joined by Megan Michaels to recap SXSW 2026 (March 12–18 in Austin) and its dominant themes, especially AI’s real-world impact, ethics, and the growing need to make “the human piece” explicit. Megan describes SXSW as a convergence of tech, film, music, startups, an
E317 - Monthly Moon Missions Missing Mishap Management Mar 20, 2026 58:19 Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/317In this episode, Nick Roome and Barry Kirby shift from AI back to space, using two moon-related stories to frame human factors risks. We discuss proposals for monthly lunar landings by 2027 and argue that higher cadence turns engineering success into a human performance problem involving fatigue, procedural drift, maintenance pressures, training
E316 - When the Sky Won't Sleep and the Moon Must Wait Mar 6, 2026 58:14 Nick Roome and Barry Kirby discuss NASA’s Artemis program overhaul, including a 2028 target for the first crewed lunar landing, added testing to reduce risk from complex first-time operations, a 2027 mission placing at least one lunar lander into low Earth orbit, and testing Axiom Space’s new spacesuit, alongside reflections on safety culture, organizational decision-making, public trust, and trad
315 - The Side Effects of AI Feb 20, 2026 01:03:39 Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/315News:This week we discuss AI’s indirect effects on work and mental health, plus a major update on US air traffic control modernization. We cover “AI replacement dysfunction,” described as stress, anxiety, insomnia, and identity loss driven by the narrative that AI will make workers obsolete, and debate whether it reflects AI-specific harm or broa
E314 - Reluctantly, another episode on AI Feb 6, 2026 55:36 Join Nick Roome and Barry Kirby in Episode 314 of Human Factors Cast! In this live-recorded episode, the focus is on artificial intelligence (AI) and its unavoidable presence in human factors and UX. The duo dives deep into security, trust, and teamwork between humans and AI. You'll also hear the latest from the new segment, This Week in Aerospace, which covers advanced air mobility's future in th
E313 - Weird, Wacky, Wonderful, CES 2026 Jan 23, 2026 59:32 In this episode of Human Factors Cast, Nick Roome and Barry Kirby dive into the latest and greatest from CES 2026. You'll hear about the most exciting and disappointing new tech, from AI missteps to innovative modular repairable headphones. Learn about the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI in consumer products, why usability still matters, and how evolving tech can both enhance and co
E312 - From Personalized UIs to Copilots: UX in 2026 Jan 9, 2026 01:01:29 In this episode of Human Factors Cast, hosts Nick Roome and Barry Kirby discuss ten UX design trends projected for 2026. Major topics include the increasing importance of explainable AI, the future of voice interfaces, the evolution of augmented reality from prototypes to practical applications, and the rise of dynamic, personalized user interfaces. They also delve into the necessity for accessibi
E311 - Worklife 2026: Now With 20% More Anxiety Dec 15, 2025 53:59 Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/311 In this episode of Human Factors Cast, Nick Roome and Barry Kirby delve into the work-life trends for 2025-2026, as reported by Glassdoor. Why does leadership trust continue to decline? How are layoffs shaping psychological safety? What is the role of AI in employee satisfaction? They also share their unique insights and experiences as leaders i
E310 - Congratulations! You are now responsible for whatever AI just did Dec 1, 2025 55:59 This week on Human Factors Cast, Nick Roome and Barry Kirby dive into how AI is reshaping human factors and UX roles. First, we discuss seven emerging jobs due to AI, such as AI decision auditor and transparency designer. We debate which roles are actually new versus functions human factors professionals already perform. Then, we explore the implications of AI in creative fields and education. How

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