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Cognitive resources and the learning of human-computer dialogs.
Authors:
Barnard, P.J.
Reference:
In J.M. Carroll (Ed.), Interfacing Thought: Cognitive Aspects of Human-Computer Interaction (pp.112-158). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. (See also 1912)
Year of publication:
1987
CBU number:
1979
Abstract:
This chapter focuses upon the development of analytic and theoretical ideas that are applicable to problems in human-computer interaction. The framework of Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Barnard, 1985) is used to decompose the representational and processing resources of cognition. This decomposition supports “Cognitive task analysis” through which user performance can be related to the functioning of resources. Underlying princriples are captured in terms of approximate relationships between four concepts: process configurations; procedural knowledge; the contents of memory records; and the dynamic control of these resources. Example analyses and principles are presented for three sets of experimental evidence. The chapter raises the prospect of formalising these principles so they can be embodied in an expert system which would build “cognitive task models” for predicting user behaviour. Cognitive task models describe the mental activity associated with the execution of tasks. These descriptions can be related in a rule base to descriptions of overt behaviour.
