HFIG Talks... Human-Robot Interaction with Prof. Jamy Li

In this episode of HFIG Talks, we are joined by Dr. Abigail Sellen, Distinguished Scientist and Lab Director at Microsoft, to explore the evolving relationship between humans and AI. With an accomplished career at the intersection of people and new technologies, Dr. Sellen shares her insights on:• Her journey from Psychology to Human Factors Engineering and human-AI interaction• Why classic Human Factors lessons remain relevant in today’s AI landscape• Foundational thinkers and papers that continue to influence her work• The role of Human Factors in designing responsible and effective AI systems• Emerging directions in human-AI interaction research• Advice for those interested in pursuing research in human-AI interactionReferenced in this episode:“The Rise of the AI Co-Pilot: Lessons for Design from Aviation and Beyond” - Abigail Sellen & Eric Horvitz

In this episode of HFIG Talks, we sit down with Mario Iannuzzi, Lead UX Design Researcher at Thoughtworks and a University of Toronto alumnus, to explore the evolving landscape of Human Factors, UX research, and AI. With over a decade of experience across industries like finance, media, social technology, and consumer electronics, Mario shares valuable insights on:• Breaking into UX/HF research and the key skills needed for success• How UX/HF varies across industries and the challenges of designing for different domains• The growing role of AI in UX research, including its benefits and limitations• The future of UX/Human Factors and AI—where the field is heading• How students and new grads can prepare for careers in UX/HF research• Tips for staying engaged and continuously learning about emerging trends and technologyResources Mario recommends:Hard Fork podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-forkLenny’s Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/All opinions expressed are solely Mario's and do not express the views or opinions of his employer.

In this episode, we spoke with Professor Chignell, a Mechanical & Industrial Engineering faculty member at UofT since 1990. With over 40 years of experience in Industrial engineering, Professor Chignell speaks on his extensive educational background and how that brought him to human factors. He also goes in-depth talking about his start in Human-AI interaction research, his main concerns regarding Human-AI interaction, the role of human factors in addressing these issues, areas where Human-AI interaction are either progressing quickly or slow-going, and areas of special interest for him. Professor Chignell leaves off by sharing some valuable pieces of wisdom with listeners interested in pursuing research in Human-AI interaction.

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Endsley, the President of SA Technologies with a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering specializing in Human Factors from the University of Southern California and both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University and Purdue University respectively. Dr. Endsley speaks on her educational background and career path thus far, projects she’s worked on, the importance of situational awareness (SA) in human factors design, challenges she faced while founding SA Technologies, her experience being the first female Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, and more. Finally, she finishes by encouraging students to “find interesting problems around you and look for solutions”.

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Green, a research professor at the University of Michigan who also teaches industrial engineering, this semester at the School of Information. With over 40 years of experience as a professor, Dr. Green speaks on his educational background, how his work in a naval shipyard led him to human factors research, and his career in academia. Dr. Green also discusses the many applications human factors have and the importance of studying human factors, and he gives valuable advice for students looking to pursue academia or research. Dr. Green finishes off by talking about receiving the Arnold M. Small and Betty M. Sanders President's Distinguished Service Award and offers very inspiring takeaways for students listening.

In this episode, we talked with Dr. Chappell, who is currently an independent human factors consultant providing advice to human factors scientists and practitioners regarding research and product development. She has had an impressive career in aviation human factors, with previous roles at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Federal Administration Association (FAA), among other places. In this episode, Dr. Chappell discusses her start in human factors and aviation, work she has done in the aviation and transportation sectors, what aviation and human factors encompasses, and more.

In this episode, we talked with Dr. Deborah Boehm-Davis, University Professor Emeritus of Psychology and former Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University. Dr. Boehm-Davis talks about her experience working in the human factors industry for over 30 years at organizations including NASA, General Electric Company, George Mason University, and Meta (formerly Oculus Research). She speaks about the applications of human factors in areas including aviation, telecommunications, administrative contexts, and everyday life. Dr. Boehm-Davis also discusses some of the fascinating projects she's worked on relating to workplace ergonomics, workload, human-computer interaction and interfaces, training, and interruption and quality of work. She also shares about working with the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society from her perspective as a former President and provides advice for students and young professionals interested in starting their careers in human factors. Episode music: The Happiest Side Of Science by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6905-the-happiest-side-of-science License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we talked to Jason Laberge, the Director of the Provincial Human Factors and Provincial Simulation teams at Alberta Health Services (AHS). Jason talks about his experience working in the human factors industry for over 20 years and most recently his experience in a leadership role at AHS and the role human factors can play in healthcare. Jason discusses the fascinating work his teams at AHS do and some of their projects including workspace design, use of simulation for evaluating designs such as ambulances, checklists and forms, medical devices, the design of early warning decision support systems, and more. Finally, Jason wraps up giving his advice for students and young professionals interested in starting their careers in human factors. Episode music: The Happiest Side Of Science by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6905-the-happiest-side-of-science License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, we talked to Trevor Hall, Vice President of Safety and Risk Management at the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) and flex-time PhD student at the Interactive Media Lab at the University of Toronto. Trevor talks about his career journey into human factors in healthcare, which has included working as a firefighter, training as a nurse, and attending business school, and discusses how his experiences have informed his work as a human factors practitioner. Trevor also discusses his current work with HIROC and the Interactive Media Lab, which involves the application of persuasive design concepts in patient safety, and provides advice for students and early career professionals who are interested in a career at the intersection of human factors and patient safety. Episode music: The Happiest Side Of Science by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6905-the-happiest-side-of-science License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, we talked to Prof. Jamy Li, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Ryerson University. Prof. Li specializes in the field of human-robot interaction and conducts research on a variety of different areas such as socially assistive robots and voice assistants. In this conversation, Prof. Li discusses his background and his current research, the links between human-robot interaction and human factors, and his thoughts on how research in human-robot interaction will evolve moving forward. See this link for additional resources related to this episode. Episode music: The Happiest Side Of Science by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6905-the-happiest-side-of-science License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/