Cognitive Engineering

Are you allowed to choose the colour of your house, the height of your grass, or more importantly can you have a garden gnome? In this podcast, we delve into the world of town planning. We discuss the evolution of urban planning, its pros and cons, and whether new cities have it right or if there are still lessons that can be learned from old towns. We also look at how town planning can affect people's happiness and examine what should be the key considerations when it comes to planning a new town. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Hampstead Garden: The History of The Suburb https://www.hgstrust.org/the-suburb/history/index.shtml - Annual personal well-being estimates https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/headlineestimatesofpersonalwellbeing - ‘Britain’s Love-Hate Relationship with New Towns’ https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/15/sterile-or-stirring-britains-love-hate-relationship-with-new-towns - The Private Production of Urban Planning https://mise

Have you ever tried to teach someone to whistle? Highly frustrating for both instructor and student. This week we examine what makes a skill difficult to teach. This podcast looks into how skills are taught and what factors create barriers to this process. We try to classify different types of skills, as well as different types of teachers and learners. We also discuss what we have personally found difficult to master, and as a bonus Tom teaches us how to make a noise like a dolphin. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - PACEY survey on the hardest things to teach kids https://www.pacey.org.uk/news-and-views/news/archive/2020-news/april-2020/news-tricky-to-teach-new-pacey-study-reveals-the/ - Tom learns the piano in six easy steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbxAHsxDML4 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image: Dean Michaud via Flickr

We recently reached our five year anniversary of producing these podcasts, and (in true meta fashion) thought we would celebrate by analysing why we recognise such occasions. At the point of recording this podcast, there have been 241 episodes of the Cognitive Engineering podcast and nearly 100,000 listens. For some reason, though, we find it much more significant that this achievement has taken us five Earth years to complete. In this podcast we examine why humans are drawn to recognise the passing of the years and whether it is useful to do so. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Places with the least seasonal variations https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/2966/are-there-locations-on-earth-that-only-have-one-season#:~:text=The%20region%20on%20Earth%20that,experience%20cold%20and%20warm%20seasons - Javanese calendar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javanese_calendar For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podc

Ten years on from the Arab Spring uprisings, we look at whether revolutions constitute an effective way of improving a country’s governance, with Dr Alia Brahimi, an expert in Middle Eastern politics. In this podcast we look at the precursors and aftermath of the Arab Spring, examining several of the affected countries - then and now - to see whether their lots have been improved. We also examine revolutions in general and consider how you might determine their success or failure, and over what period of time it is appropriate to judge their outcomes. Finally, we analyse different types of revolution and try to understand how they might be predicted. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Jihad and Just War in the War on Terror https://global.oup.com/academic/product/jihad-and-just-war-in-the-war-on-terror-9780199562961?cc=gb&lang=en& - ‘Life has got worse since the Arab Spring’ https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/17/arab-spring-people-middle-east-poll - Alias Advisory https://a

Which is more grating, constant punning or permanent snarkiness? We examine the hierarchy of humour in order to determine what is, indeed, no laughing matter. In this podcast, we consider whether humour value can be objectively measured, and if so, whether it is a separate concept to that of wit. We also look at why we bother to attempt humour in the first place. Finally, we engage in a slightly awkward exercise to determine whether we are good judges of our own funniness. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The eleven kinds of joke according to The Onion’s founder https://bigthink.com/stephen-johnson/every-joke-falls-in-one-of-these-11-categories-according-to-the-founder-of-the-onion - The Atlantic: What Makes Something Funny? https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/funny-how/550910/ - Do animals have a sense of humour? https://www.livescience.com/60864-do-animals-have-humor.html - Humor ability reveals intelligence, predicts mating success, and is higher in male https://www.psy

What is more virtuous, delivering a pizza or administering a Covid test? As we begin to end lockdown, we discuss who was most helpful during this difficult period. In this podcast, we examine how data can be used to assess the societal value of different jobs. We look at the Covid risk exposure of different roles, consider whether salary is a good indicator of value, and explore where duty ends and altruism begins. Finally, we ask whether heroism can ever truly be measured. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Death rates by occupation (National Statistics) https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbyoccupationenglandandwales/deathsregisteredbetween9marchand28december2020 - Wages by occupation (National Statistics) https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/datasets/grossweeklyearningsbyoccupationearn06 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://a

What3words provides its users with an easy way of referring to any geographic location, but nobody knows how the three word reference is generated. Is this the right approach or should all standards be open? This podcast looks at how open and closed standards work, investigates the pros and cons of both and considers their economic consequences. We explore existing examples of open and closed standards and delve into the relative levels of control and investment value that both models offer. We also look at the rights of users, such as the right to repair. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - What 3 Words https://what3words.com/daring.lion.race - Why bother with What Three Words? https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/03/why-bother-with-what-three-words/ - Vendor lock-in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in - Prisoner’s Dilemma https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/prisoners-dilemma.asp#:~:text=The%20prisoner's%20dilemma%20is%20a,expense%20of%20the%20other%20participant. - Right to repair https:/

The Covid pandemic has seen a sharp rise in government spending, and large scale testing and vaccination programmes. Some of these have been successful, while others less so. We look at whether, on balance, governments are an effective mechanism for achieving desirable outcomes. In this podcast, we explore the rationale for having governments in the first place and consider what activities it is appropriate for them to carry out. We look at what happens when the government gets it wrong and also examine what various data sources say about the relative effectiveness of the private and public sectors. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Chicago School of Economics https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/chicago_school.asp - Milton Friedman – Four ways to spend money https://investorjunkie.com/economics/milton-friedman-ways-spend-money/ - Principle-Agent Problem https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/principal-agent-problem.asp#:~:text=The%20principal%2Dagent%20problem%20is,roles%20of%20principal%20and%2

Some government ministers seem to constantly court controversy, while others manage to fly smoothly under the incompetence radar. Is this down to luck or judgement, and what is it realistic to expect from our politicians? In this podcast, we examine ministerial accountability using Gavin Williamson as a case study. We consider whether it is realistic to expect a government minister to be infallible, and if so what level of fallibility is acceptable. We also delve into concepts of ministerial responsibility and honour, and try to understand when something is a minister’s fault. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The Crichel Down Affair https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crichel_Down_affair - List of political scandals in the United Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_scandals_in_the_United_Kingdom - Institute for Government chart of ministerial resignations https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/charts/ministerial-resignations-outside-reshuffles-prime-minister - Gordon Brown -

Quite aside from a pandemic, a brewing environmental catastrophe and a highly disruptive technological revolution, is the trend for protein shakes the real sign that we have moved into a dystopian nightmare? We look at what constitutes a dystopia, how you can categorise different types of dystopia and why we conceive of them in the first place. We also attempt to measure how close we are to dystopia at the moment and explore whether we would be able to spot its arrival. Finally, we consider if there is such a thing as a good dystopia. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Are we living in a dystopia? https://theconversation.com/are-we-living-in-a-dystopia-136908 - Darren Allen’s ‘four kinds of dystopia’ https://expressiveegg.org/2017/01/03/four-kinds-dystopia/ - TV Tropes - dystopia https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Dystopia - British Social Attitudes https://www.bsa.natcen.ac.uk/ - The Economist - Global democracy has another bad year https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/01

Nasty, brutish and short or the Garden of Eden? We explore the Return to Monke meme and ask whether we are right to yearn for a more primitive lifestyle. In this podcast, we examine our origins as hunter-gatherers and explore whether things were better or worse before we became civilised. We look at food scarcity, environmental damage, child mortality rates and a whole host of other fun stuff. We also address the morality of primitivism and consider what would actually happen if we all tried to Return to Monke. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Know Your Meme: Return to Monke https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/return-to-monke - The Unabomber manifesto: Industrial society and its future http://editions-hache.com/essais/pdf/kaczynski2.pdf - Life expectancy in hunter-gatherers https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-16999-6_2352-1#:~:text=Excepting%20outside%20forces%20such%20as,individuals%20living%20in%20developed%20countries - Are hunter-gatherers the happiest humans to

Some art forms seem to have passed their creative peak, no longer acting as an outlet for human ingenuity and innovation. But how do we know that they are truly moribund and not just having a bit of a rest? In this podcast we look at art forms that appear to have stopped generating genuinely novel work, and see if there are any broader lessons we can draw regarding their life cycles. We also consider whether some art forms are better suited to longevity than others. Finally, we discuss the concept of a golden era and wonder which heydays would have been the most fun to have lived through. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The 32 Most Iconic Poems in the English Language https://lithub.com/the-32-most-iconic-poems-in-the-english-language/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcasts@alephinsights.com Image: Herry Lawford via Wikimedia Commons

As Donald Trump’s impeachment trial continues, we take a dispassionate and analytical look at his personality, motivations and leadership model with guest psychologist, Susie Ballentyne. In this podcast we try to deconstruct the leadership style and behaviour of Donald Trump, asking what made him so different from many of his predecessors. We look at Trump’s background and trajectory as a leader and try to understand how it shaped his Presidency, as well as analysing his world view and his approach to consensus and conflict. Finally, we look at the links between narcissism and popularity. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The mind of Donald Trump https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/the-mind-of-donald-trump/480771/ - Politifact - Donald Trump’s Scorecard https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/ - The real reason Donald Trump lies https://www.ft.com/content/b752121c-127a-11e9-a581-4ff78404524e - Entrepreneurial personalities in political leadership https://www.rese

What is a show-off and are we right to be irritated by those who display certain types of skills? Be warned, various swear words are analysed in this podcast for their role in categorising annoying people. This podcast considers what constitutes a useful talent, and whether overtly displaying our abilities is necessarily pretentious or ostentatious, and therefore worthy of ire. We analyse both the reason we feel that a show off is annoying and the reason that somebody might show off in the first place. Finally, we delve into the use of rude words to describe irritating people and determine whether they represent a useful taxonomy of human behaviours. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Assholes: A Theory by Aaron James https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assholes:_A_Theory - Attempts to define the douchebag: https://thoughtcatalog.com/lorenzo-jensen-iii/2016/06/31-hilarious-ways-to-explain-exactly-what-a-douchebag-really-is/ - Prestige v Dominance, according to Robin Hanson: https://www.overcomingbias

In the wake of a relatively successful British vaccination programme, we ask what it is to be proud and whether we have any right to bask in the glory of others’ achievements. In this podcast we try to define pride, characterise its emotional hue and determine whether it is good or bad. We look at the things we feel proud of (whether individual or group achievements) and try to understand what underlying factors drive pride. Finally, we consider how pride affects decision-making. Quite a good podcast, even if we do say ourselves. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - British diplomat saves student: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-54961075#:~:text=A%20British%20diplomat%20has%20been,rocks%20into%20the%20deep%20water - Britain is a ‘much better country’ than France, Belgium and the US: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55175162 - Survey data on nationalism: https://www.cessda.eu/content/download/4150/47019/file/CESSDAWorkshop_Data_nationalism_29.05.18_slides.pdf - Sports fans have

A beginning is a very delicate time. The transition from one set of leaders to another can be fraught with difficulty. Talking before the US Capitol riots brought this so sharply into focus, we discuss what makes for a smooth handover of power. In this podcast we discuss the factors that lead to turbulent power transitions and whether we can predict how they will go. We examine historical precedents from monarchical successions, enforced regime changes and democratic handovers, and question whether leaders are more or less vulnerable just after they have ascended to the throne. This podcast was recorded prior to the unruly invasion of the US Capitol Building - how accurate were our predictions regarding whether Donald Trump would attend Joe Biden's inauguration? A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - List of UK Prime Ministers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prime_ministers_of_the_United_Kingdom - List of Italian Prime Ministers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prime_ministers_of_Italy -

If you like wasting your time on pointless activities, join us as we talk to Chris Lear from the Magpie Crossword Magazine and discuss why humans enjoy puzzles. In this podcast, we explore the weird and wonderful world of the cryptic crossword community. We also try to solve the puzzle of why we willingly devote time and energy to tasks which are deliberately designed to be difficult and have no obvious benefits. Finally, you can try your hand at answering one of our guest’s fiendish clues. Answers on a postcard to Aleph Insights. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Magpie Crossword Magazine: https://www.piemag.com/ - Categories of insight: https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/3857/Categories%20of%20insight.pdf;jsessionid=EC7EB351382427E244C7566AC18448C3?sequence=1 - Need for Cognition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_cognition - Need for Cognition and the Big 5: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223989709603517#:~:text=Significant%20positive%20direct%20r

We discuss whether rivalries spur us on to ever greater achievements or distract us with unnecessary competition. Is a nemesis necessary in order to define our success, or do they simply lure us to the edge of the Reichenbach Falls? Join us as we plunge headlong into the debate. In this podcast we examine the impact of national and ideological rivalries, attempting to determine whether fierce competition with an outside agency makes societies more or less productive. We look at historical case studies such as the Cold War, but also investigate the influence of personal rivalries on individual achievements, asking whether bearing a grudge really makes a difference. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Gallup’s favourability ratings https://news.gallup.com/poll/1624/perceptions-foreign-countries.aspx - ‘Rivalries can improve individual athletic performance’ https://psychcentral.com/news/2014/07/04/rivalries-improve-individual-athletic-performance/72073.html#:~:text=New%20research%20looks%20at%20the,i

What’s it like to celebrate Christmas in the southern hemisphere? Are there things about Christmas that don’t make sense in summer? Things mentioned in this podcast: - Was Jesus born on 25 December? https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/when-was-jesus-born/ - Average monthly temperature of cities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_average_temperature - Things to do in Wichita at Christmas https://www.google.com/search?q=wichita+christmas+events&oq=wichita+christmas&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.2239j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ibp=htl;events&rciv=evn&sxsrf=ACYBGNQUDj2uHQUMZqneSzGli7vHGsO5jw:1574686584061#htivrt=events&htidocid=F7M37PunUtLJvVeVJpA8-A%3D%3D&fpstate=tldetail For more Cognitive Engineering episodes find us on iTunes, Google Play or wherever you get your podcasts, or add this RSS feed to your preferred player https://link.chtbl.com/SQeIgc44

Passwords have become an integral part of our everyday lives, keeping our money, our data and our secrets safe. But what makes a good one, or a bad one for that matter? Click, friend, and enter. In this podcast we look at how hackers exploit passwords and analyse the common themes that make them easy to hack. We also consider whether having password restrictions (e.g. mandating password length or character requirements) may actually be doing more harm than good. Finally, we explore how passwords and security might evolve in the future as authentication technologies advance. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: World’s worst passwords https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/news/worst-passwords-2020 8 6 reasons biometrics are bad authenticators https://www.csoonline.com/article/3330695/6-reasons-biometrics-are-bad-authenticators-and-1-acceptable-use.html Have I been pwned? https://haveibeenpwned.com/ Breached websites: https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites Why 2FA SMS is a bad idea https://blog.sucuri.net/2