Professorial Lecture: Being Human in the Age of Technology

Tue May 26 2026 at 07:30 am to 08:30 am UTC+12:00

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts and Gallery | Hamilton

The University of Waikato
Publisher/HostThe University of Waikato
Professorial Lecture: Being Human in the Age of Technology
Advertisement
Technology is embedded into every part of our lives, but what can we do to make certain that it is reliable, usable and safe?
'Being Human in the Age of Technology' by Professor Judy Bowen.
This talk traces a research journey motivated by seemingly simple questions: How do things work? Why do they work? Why don’t they work? How can we make them better? Crucially, how can we be confident that the systems we rely on every day are not only usable, but also behave as expected. When these systems are safety-critical the stakes are even higher, if things go wrong the results may be catastrophic rather than merely inconvenient.
While rigorous formal methods and mathematical models of software can help provide assurance for safety critical systems, they aren’t typically used to consider user interactions and interface design. This talk will describe how understanding human behaviour, capabilities, and limitations provides an essential foundation for the design of interactive systems, particularly in contexts where failure can have serious consequences. Also, how integrating this understanding into formal software development approaches can ensure we design systems that work for real people in real contexts of use. Through examples drawn from medical devices and hazardous outdoor work environments it illustrates how formal software development techniques are most effective when grounded in realistic models of human interaction.
The talk will conclude by returning to the growing area of health technology and the ever-changing nature of technology and its uses, reflecting on how insights gained across diverse domains can inform the next generation of interactive, safety critical systems. Throughout, the emphasis is on bridging disciplines, connecting people, models, and technology, to build systems we can justifiably trust.
Advertisement

Event Venue

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts and Gallery, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts,Hamilton, New Zealand

Tickets

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Hamilton

May in the Wi Neera Street Community Garden
Tue, 26 May at 05:00 am May in the Wi Neera Street Community Garden

Wi Neera St, Raglan 3225, New Zealand

Professorial Lecture by Professor Judy Bowen
Tue, 26 May at 05:30 pm Professorial Lecture by Professor Judy Bowen

Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts

Next Gen Panel Discussion
Tue, 26 May at 05:30 pm Next Gen Panel Discussion

Foley Douglas

Gentle Nia - Raglan
Tue, 26 May at 11:30 pm Gentle Nia - Raglan

Raglan Town Hall

Hamilton Regional Meeting
Wed, 27 May at 06:00 am Hamilton Regional Meeting

Red Star Signs

Wednesday Muso Night \u2013 The Yard Raglan
Wed, 27 May at 07:30 am Wednesday Muso Night – The Yard Raglan

Volcom Lane, Raglan, New Zealand

May 2026 Coffee Catchup with Sands Waikato
Wed, 27 May at 09:30 am May 2026 Coffee Catchup with Sands Waikato

Scots Presbyterian Church, 32 Vardon Road, St Andrews, Hamilton 3200

Hamilton is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Hamilton Events