Cognitive Engineering

The hosts discuss the frustration of constantly being asked to create usernames and passwords for various accounts, from electric car rechargers to coffee shop loyalty schemes.

The Cognitive Engineering Podcast panel — Fraser McGruer, Nick Hare, Peter Coghill, and Chris Ragg of Aleph Insights — develops a four-criterion framework for determining whether any system is rebootable, starting from why turning a router off and on again works and extending to economies, constitutions, and countries.

The Cognitive Engineering Podcast team — Fraser McGruer, Peter Coghill, Chris Ragg, and Nick Hare of Aleph Insights — attempt to build a rigorous model for measuring the cultural significance of a death, triggered by dissatisfaction with a Reddit list that included Queen Victoria, John Lennon, and Princess Diana.

The hosts discuss the decline of inventors by reminiscing about the TV show Tomorrow's World and its exciting demonstrations of future technologies like home computers and mobile phones.

This episode explores the scientific concept of mirror life, discussing mirror organisms like mirror bacteria and the chirality of molecules such as DNA and proteins.

This episode examines whether Donald Trump is the worst U.S.

The hosts debate what the best technology ever invented is, starting with the bed, and discuss how to measure and evaluate technology objectively.

This episode discusses two breakthroughs in lost media, focusing on the mystery of Celebrity No.

The hosts discuss the lack of a cheese review website and what it reveals about analysis and decision-making.

The hosts discuss the poor performance of Windows search and compare it to the superior free utility Everything by Void Tools.

The hosts discuss the subjective experience of becoming old and whether there is a precise moment when one transitions from young to old.

The hosts discuss the subculture of train spotting, its history, and what it reveals about analysis and decision-making.

The hosts debate what defines a national treasure, using Bradley Walsh as a case study to explore cultural values and societal recognition.

A panel discusses the reasons for studying history, examining common arguments and societal perceptions.

A roundtable discussion on the recent lifting of the ban on beards in the British Army, exploring the reasons behind the rule and its broader implications for rules in society.

The hosts discuss the life and work of psychologist Daniel Kahneman, focusing on cognitive biases and heuristics that challenge the rational model of decision-making.

A discussion on the history and future of touchscreen interfaces, comparing them to mechanical predecessors like linotype machines.

The Cognitive Engineering Podcast team — Fraser McGruer, Nick Hare, and Peter Coghill — examines whether the perceived link between genius and madness is empirically real or a culturally convenient myth.

The Cognitive Engineering Podcast team — Fraser McGruer, Chris Lear, Peter Coghill, and Nick Hare of Aleph Insights — investigates why humans are drawn to neatness, starting from Peter's pleasure that 2023 ended on a Sunday and Nick's children's insistence on TV volume at multiples of five.

Two holidays become the stress test.

This episode discusses zero tolerance policies in schools, using a specific case in Lincolnshire as an example to explore their implications and effectiveness.

A discussion about the feasibility and societal impact of teleportation, exploring its implications for identity and everyday life.

This episode discusses London's oldest house, exploring its history, survival through events like the Great Fire of 1666, and what it reveals about analysis and decision-making.

The hosts discuss the nature of grudges, using examples from Werner Herzog and Julius Caesar to explore how grudges influence behavior and decision-making.

This episode features a discussion with marketing expert Dave Folkman about how the marketing landscape has evolved over the past 20 years, drawing from his experience in fast-moving consumer goods, brands, and entrepreneurship.

The hosts discuss recent orca attacks on boats and speculate on a hypothetical war between land and sea.

The hosts discuss the concept of 'content' in digital media, debating whether it's merely filler for containers like podcasts or an artistic creation with intrinsic value.

The hosts discuss whether Britain is in decline, using a delayed train as a springboard to analyze societal and political issues.

A panel discusses whether perfect weather is objective or subjective, exploring how climate affects mood and outlook.

The hosts discuss British motorway naming conventions, focusing on the differences between the M27 and M23 and other notable motorways in England.

The hosts discuss the life and cultural impact of Jerry Springer, reflecting on his show as a 1990s phenomenon and its implications for analysis and decision-making.

The hosts discuss the Aztecs (Mexica) and their advanced civilization, using a thought experiment about writing stories to explore analysis and decision making.

The hosts discuss a news story about musician Fiona Fay facing noise complaints from a neighbor and a potential fine, exploring themes of neighbor relations and societal norms.

The hosts discuss how to improve email communication by balancing thoroughness with brevity, inspired by a friend's experience.

The hosts discuss the concept of a small number of people causing a disproportionate amount of problems, using examples like shoplifting and antisocial behavior.