Not Replacement, But Extension: Engineering Technology to Amplify Human Judgment
Artificial intelligence and social media have justifiably raised alarms about the dangers posed to humanity — and the risks are real. But framing our relationship with technology purely through the lens of fear misses a fundamental possibility: that technology can extend human capability rather than supplant it. Distance need not mean disconnection. Sensory impairment need not mean exclusion. Cognitive overload need not mean error.
Drawing on research from the Shared Reality Lab at McGill University, I examine how carefully engineered human-computer systems can bridge these gaps. Spanning applications in telepresence, assistive technology for blind and low-vision users, multimodal patient vital sign monitoring in the OR and ICU, and decision support for pilots and air traffic controllers, I argue that the most powerful role for technology is not to replace human judgment — but to give humans the perceptual and cognitive resources to exercise it well. Across these domains, a common design philosophy emerges: the best interfaces demand less attention, restoring situational awareness and re-establishing the shared reality that distance, disability, or information overload has disrupted. In an era preoccupied with what technology might take from us, this talk makes the case for what it can give back.