Applications for Executable Cognitive Models: A Case-Study Approach

Abstract

Recent theoretical advances in the understanding of expert-level cognition have enabled the creation of software systems and tools that mimic the cognitive performance of human experts. These human performance models are termed cognitive models because they explicitly represent peoples' internal information processing mechanisms and knowledge. While the initial set of cognitive models and cognitive modeling systems focused on developing and testing psychological theory, a second generation of cognitive modeling tools has emerged, with a focus on creating cognitive models for use in application contexts. The range of practical uses of executable cognitive models covers design applications (for use in cognitive engineering), operational applications (for use within a fielded system), and training applications. The various possibilities are exemplified through a series of case-studies representing successful applications in interface design, decision and performance support, and intelligent training.

Developing Concept Learning Capabilities in the COGNET/IGEN Integrative architecture and Associated Agent-based Modeling and Behavioral Representation (AMBR) Air Traffic Control

“…Originally created as an engine to embed usermodels into intelligent interfaces (Zachary, Ryder, Ross & Weiland, 1992), the system has been generalized and extended over time to create a flexible framework for building cognitive agents for use in intelligent training, decision-support, and human performance modeling (Zachary, Ryder, Santarelli & Weiland, 2000). iGEN is an integrated software development environment that supports the authoring, editing, debugging, and integrating of COGNET models (Zachary & Le Mentec, 1999).…”

Automated Tutoring Environment for Command (ATEC): Using an Intelligent Tutor to Model Expert Mentor Interactions

“…The major successes of the knowledge-tracing variant of intent inference in tutoring (e.g., Anderson et al, 1995;Van Lehn, 1990;Lesgold, Lajoie, Bunzo, & Eggan, 1992) have all come in such cases. On the other hand, the CHI Systems research team has substantial success with the situational approach (using the COGNET/iGEN technology) in both tutoring and performance support domains (Zachary, Ryder, Santarelli, & Weiland, 2000).…”