The April 2015 Mad Scientist Conference raised important issues about how teams of humans can interact effectively with autonomous systems. Machine cognition can help compress decision cycles for human operators, allowing for faster reactions in a complex operational environment. The future of decision-making may be the results of collaborative interactions between humans and machines where human sensors interact with machine sensors.
The conference also raised questions about the implications of the application of advanced cognitive sciences and biotechnology in the Army of the future. Understanding the individual cognitive baselines of our Soldiers and leaders could allow the Army to give individuals the tools they need to succeed in a more complex future operating environment. The role of microbiomes could impact Soldiers physical well-being and readiness, while novel metal nanoclusters from Bio-manufacturing could lower profile, lessen load, and add to stealth.
The human network and how it performs with manned and unmanned systems is integral to the success of networked systems moving forward. The next Mad Scientist will focus on these issues, and more, relating to the Human Dimension. Think about. Post articles about it. Engage in the discussion. We want to hear from you!