Topic Areas for Consideration

In support of Cognitive Technology’s broader scope, we have identified a set of important areas of research and development appropriate to our new mission. These areas are not meant to represent exhaustive coverage; rather, they have been specifically identified as areas very relevant to, and in need of recognition by, researchers in cognitive technology. In particular, note that, cutting across this expanse of topics below, are the more standard cognitive processes typically examined in research on cognition, including: perception, attention, memory, learning, decision making and problem solving. Also important across these areas are issues associated with cognitive development and how cognitive technology needs to be grounded in an understanding of how cognition changes across the life-span - whether it be in the context of children interacting with computer games or learning systems, adults engaged in complex cognitive work, or older adults utilizing memory aids or interacting with information technology. As such, we welcome submissions fitting within any of these broad themes.

Submissions appropriate for the area of Cognitive Systems Engineering research will consist of a blend of concepts and methods arising from cognitive and computer science and allied disciplines, with a holistic approach to understanding human-systems integration (e.g., sociotechnical systems, cognitive work analysis). This research will address the unfolding of cognition in naturalistic and dynamic work environments, typically characterized by a multitude of human operators and automated technologies interacting collaboratively to accomplish their mission. (e.g., industrial process control, surgical team systems, robotic vehicle operations). Emphasis should be on improving the quality and efficiency of work systems for the human operators through analysis of the interactions of the technology, the people, and the environment of operation, including the organization within which the humans operate.

Submissions appropriate for the area of Cognitive Aids research will be focused on the design, development, and/or testing of technologies that either support learning or scaffold everyday cognitive processes. Technologies to support learning can include computer-based training developed for learning specific skills (e.g., electronic maintenance), or for acquiring specific knowledge (e.g., biology). Activities and programs designed to assist recovery from brain injuries, or to limit the cognitive decline normally associated with aging, or to improve the cognitive health and performance of adults and children without cognitive deficits are encouraged. Technologies that scaffold everyday cognitive processes can range from memory aids such as personal data assistants to technologies designed to support dynamic cognitive processing (e.g., working memory or decision making). Also appropriate are articles addressing the development of technologies designed to engage in real-time physiological and neurophysiological sensing to asses cognitive states (e.g., EEG, fNIR), or neural stimulation devices such as neural implants or nootropic drugs designed to enhance cognitive processing.

Submissions appropriate for the area of Cognitive Models and Agent Technologies research will address the design, development, and validation of quantitative models of human cognition (e.g., GOMS, ACT-R, SOAR, neural networks, bayesian models, etc.). This area encompasses models focused on single cognitive processes, those dealing with the interaction of cognitive processes, as well as broader cognitive architectures developed for the assessment of performance or predictions of performance. Also appropriate are submissions describing the instantiation of cognitive models in software and embodied agents. Such agent technologies can be realized as software agents interacting within some simulation, or as software agents supporting some cognitive process of a user. Or, such agents can be embodied robotic agents interacting with the real world and capable of perceiving and acting within that world at some level of goal-directed behavior.

Submissions appropriate for the area of Human Factors research will address the interaction of humans with machines, either as operators, or users, or as maintainers of technologies, and includes how our understanding of cognition influences issues associated with design, safety, and training. This research will consist of a blend of psychology, physiology, and engineering to address issues of how cognitive processing influences, and is influenced, by human interaction with technologies such as displays, interfaces, and controls (e.g., perception and information display, workload and interface design). Also welcome are articles addressing how individual differences in anthropometrics, knowledge, aptitudes, skills, or attitudes moderate the design or use of technology.

Submissions appropriate for the area of Modeling and Simulation research will address the design and development of simulations for the purposes of learning and training or decision making and problem solving. Articles that address modeling and simulation issues associated with scalability, interoperability, composability, and validation are also welcome, particularly as they address how we aggregate multiple cognitive models across simulations that interoperate with each other and how we should interpret the output. Also welcome is research and development in areas of virtual and mixed reality addressing the cognitive issues associated with human-virtual environment interaction. Topics include not only research on the design of, or performance in, such environments, but also articles addressing the broader societal issues associated virtual environments (e.g., health and safety).

Submissions appropriate for the area of Cognitive Rehabilitation research should be focused on the design, development, and/or testing of procedures or technologies that support training and retraining of cognitive deficits in the brain-injured and others with cognitive impairment. Emphasis can be on methods addressing any cognitive impairment leading to problems with quality of life such as independence and/or interpersonal issues as well as issues of vocation and productivity. Topics can range from procedures, tools, or technologies emphasizing cognitive retraining of specific deficits to broader and more holistic methods that are designed to help the brain-injured manage the cognitive, social, and emotional components of their injury.