Distributed Cognition - outline Distributed Cognition Discussion about distributed cognition General discussion

Reaction against mentalism Cognitivism (competence) Behaviourism (performance) Social antropology (systems) People select and build their physical and social environment and do so to support cognition.

Individual I think

Janusface Distribution Share Part

HCI-interaction I think

Aim …to determine how to best represent, store and give access to electronical and other information dense artefacts for a collaborative team, enabling them to work in an orchestrated manner Interaction human-technology Organization of human-technology Design of representations

Theoretical background Information processing theory System theory Socio-cultural theory Cognitive anthopology

Information processing psychology How information –Travels –Processed –Represented (critique of the all in the head processing) Mental processes is what cannot be explained by environmental factors Communication is the systems internal procesessing

System theory Humans + the artefacts = cognitive system Delimiting the focus by goal or physical space Generalisability Comparision ”The system is more than the parts” ”Change in one part may effect other parts or the productiveness of the whole” Subsystems are dependent Production is organisation dependent

HCI-system

Socio-cultural theory Each individuals perspective is culturally determined Humans as producers and reproducers of culture Focus is on process and meaning, rather than structure Emergence

Social-distribution Conceptual change

Cognitive systems Each individuals problem-space is small Make parallell activities possible Artefacts is part of cognitive processessing All information cannot be internalised Organisation and physical space determine information processing Interactive and intrapsychological phenomenon are different

Activity context Synergistic whole Actors and artefacts constrain and enables each interactions

Context-bound The arrangement of equipment in a workplace might seem to be a topic for traditional, noncognitive ergonomics. However, it has an interpretation in terms of the construction of systems of socially distributed cognition. The interaction of the properties of the senses with the physical layout of the task environment defines possibilities for the distribution of access to information (Hutchins, 1995:197)

Social distribution How components interact How components make learning possible

Equivalent access hypothesis Compare to system theory Princip Not discussing meaning Association

Description levels Task –What the system should perform Representation –What openess and state Activity –How and what people do

Human interaction with technology With: Amplification (utility, power, strength) Of: Cognitive transformation (residual)

Learning Behaviour that manifest over time and context Change in the environment is part of learning Change in mental spaces

Learning Horizon of observation Open interaction Open tools

Learning in action Errors and breakdowns makes people articulate Artefacts and interactions make information visible Work distribution may be arranged for monitoring

Of and with effects Conceptual change

Analysis Access Representation Knowledge Konstruktion

Method Fieldstudies Experiement Simulations Computable models

User and technology Technology serving as a catalysator Humans can serve as catalysator Humans process from goal and meaning Each component is more than its internal sophistication Humans are meaning-processing component Knowledge is in interaction

Executive function and system delimitation System information flow depends upon the execution People come into systems System organise for people who choose Higher knowledge is uniquely human

Formal and actual organisation Formal task distribution Actual task distribution and access to information

Distributed Cognition Conceptual change

The emergency control centre Receives all emergency calls (112) Exists at 20 sites in Sweden Co-ordinates and operates several organisations Operates with a minimum of 2 people

Assessing the situation Background Different priorities Many fake emergencies (kids, mobile phone testing, strange people) Operator rutines Ask for additional details Ask for the reporter´s phone number Check phone number with the official phone database Ask for the reporter´s mane and home address Match information from the database with the one reported

Collaborative tasks Parallell activities necessary Joint assessment of the accident Remind each other of action to take Feedback support of the assessment Share of their specific responsibilities

When to call for assistance? If the emergency seems to require parallel activities If it is difficult to hear or understand the caller If it is difficult to access the emergency, and what resources to co-ordinate

Co-ordination mechanisms Signal Display - lets the operators make a hierarchy of accidents and events Computer screen - only shows which phone number the caller has called) Human interaction