I shifted my focus from Training System Design to Cognitive Systems Design in the mid-90s, having come to believe that much of what I was doing in my training research would become less important if we could design more work-focussed systems. More recently, I have been reflecting on my earlier training research as I work on the design of cognitive systems with seamlessly integrated training capabilities that promote implicit learning during normal work.
Lintern, Gavan (2010). A Comparison of the Decision Ladder and the Recognition-Primed Decision Model. Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, 4 (4), pp. 304–327. (and my most recent version of the Decision Lladder)
Lintern, Gavan (2012). Work-focused analysis and design. Cognition, Technology & Work, 14 (1), 71-81.
A functional workspace for military analysis of insurgent operations. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2006, 36 (5), 409-422. [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Functional interface design for the modern aircraft cockpit. The International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 1999, 9, 225-240. (with T. Waite & D.A. Talleur) [PDF, 1.0 MB]
An affordance-based perspective on human-machine interface design. Ecological Psychology, 2000, 12, 65-69. [PDF, 0.1 MB]
Foundational Issues for Work Domain Analysis. Proceedings of the 50th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (2006, pp. 432-436). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors & Ergonomics Society. [PDF, 1.0 MB]
Preface: Special issue on Cognitive Engineering. The International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 1999, 9, 199-201. [PDF, 0.15 MB]
Self organization in connectionist models: Associative memory, dissipative structures, and Thermodynamic Law. Human Movement Science, 1991, 10, 447-483. (with P.N. Kugler) [PDF, 1.65 MB]
Human systems designers have failed conceptually to put technology in its place. We use a lot of imprecise language that accords technology equal status to people. I offer a different view.
Development of a functional workspace for operational planning, from analysis to prototype design.
Clarification of a number of issues that others have with Work Domain Analysis, especially Morten Lind (Cognition, Technology & Work, 2003, 5: 67-81)
An introduction to the strategy of Functional (Ecological) Interface Design and its relationships to other important human-system design concepts.
I conclude that the decision ladder and the recognition-primed decision model are more similar conceptually than they may first appear. I also offer a revised form of the decision ladder.
Clarification of the affordance concept: its mathematical basis & relevance to system design. Many people misunderstand the nature of an affordance. This should help.
A brief commentary on the challenges posed to Human-Systems design by rapidly evolving computerized technologies.
Written when Parallel Distributed Processing was the new cognitive theory, grounding some of the more obscure concepts in physical theory.
On my home page, I note that a cognitive system is a thinking (or intelligent) information system. The intelligence emerges from the collaboration between human agents as supported by their use of technological artifacts.
I object to the idea that a cognitive system could be based on software. Technological artifacts can help us think (as they have done for centuries) but they do not, in themselves, think.
Many researchers are enchanted with the idea that we are on our way towards building intelligent machines. I regard that as science fiction fantasy. If we really do want better cognitive systems, let’s build better schools.
Access my papers and presentations on this topic here.