William H. Edmondson

Projected Cognition - extending Distributed Cognition for the study of human interaction with computers

In this paper, we introduce the notion of Projected Cognition as an extension to Distributed Cognition. Distributed Cognition is a conceptual framework which can be useful in studying human interactions with artefacts; the idea is that of cognition not bounded by the cranium but instead perfusing artefacts in ways that are recoverable. We argue that this analysis has not been fully understood in relation to the behaviour of humans with artefacts in that the intentionality in behaviour has been ignored. We argue that we need to view the human as sometimes projecting their intention in behaviour onto the artefacts they use, and suggest that this conception permits greater clarity in the study of user behaviour with artefacts such as computers. We illustrate the development with case studies of two users of complex configurations of computers as well as examples drawn from the published literature. We conclude with consideration of some design implications and discussion of related domains in HCI where Projected Cognition could be influential.

PULSATION PERIOD VARIATIONS IN THE RRc LYRAE STAR KIC 5520878

Learned et al. proposed that a sufficiently advanced extra-terrestrial civilization may tickle Cepheid and RR Lyrae variable stars with a neutrino beam at the right time, thus causing them to trigger early and jogging the otherwise very regular phase of their expansion and contraction. This would turn these stars into beacons to transmit information throughout the galaxy and beyond. The idea is to search for signs of phase modulation (in the regime of short pulse duration) and patterns, which could be indicative of intentional, omnidirectional signaling. We have performed such a search among variable stars using photometric data from the Kepler space telescope. In the RRc Lyrae star KIC 5520878, we have found two such regimes of long and short pulse durations. The sequence of period lengths, expressed as time series data, is strongly autocorrelated, with correlation coefficients of prime numbers being significantly higher (p = 99.8%). Our analysis of this candidate star shows that the prime number oddity originates from two simultaneous pulsation periods and is likely of natural origin. Simple physical models elucidate the frequency content and asymmetries of the KIC 5520878 light curve. Despite this SETI null result, we encourage testing of other archival and future time-series photometry for signs of modulated stars. This can be done as a by-product to the standard analysis, and can even be partly automated.

The utilization of pulsars as SETI beacons

This paper proposes that pulsars can serve as beacons for the discovery of and communication with extraterrestrials. The motivation for the communication strategy proposed is discussed in detail, along with relevant astrophysical considerations. It is shown that millisecond pulsars have characteristics and a distribution in space that make it possible to envisage communication being targeted towards and away from habstars (as defined by Turnbull & Tarter) aligned with pulsars in a specified way. Lists of candidate habstars and their pulsar alignments are included for those wishing to conduct searches using the strategy described.

Asynchronous parallelism in human behaviour: a cognitive science perspective on human-computer interaction

Abstract Abstract The paper first presents a discussion of non-linearities in human sequential behaviour-in terms of interleaving-and then introduces the concepts which underlie non-linear phonology. The paper does not provide a full treatment of the theory of non-linear phonology, nor of its generalization to cover non-speech activities-these can be found elsewhere in the literature. The significance of the formalism of non-linear phonology for researchers and designers in human-computer interaction is revealed through the discussion of several examples, ranging from general behaviour with a multi-tasking interface, via interleaved activities in the use of a note-taking aid, to programming itself.

Pseudo-articulatory representations in speech synthesis and recognition

Pseudo-articulatory representations are increasingly being used in work on speech synthesis and recognition. The value of such representations lies in their derivation from linguistic abstractions-they are based on articulatory idealizations used by linguists to describe speech. Iles and Edmondson (1994) demonstrated that, using these representations, it is possible to overcome the many-to-one problem in mapping articulatory configuration to acoustic signal. The authors show how the representations facilitate the details of speech processing, for both synthesis and recognition, and give details of work in progress on recognition. The role of pseudo-articulatory representations in the development of an integrated approach to synthesis and recognition is also discussed.

Projected cognition: capturing intent in descriptions of complex interaction

In a study of activity and usage of comparatively complex configurations - where users have multiple screens and/or multiple computers - we have noticed that accounts of what is being observed and reported are tricky to unify within a coherent framework. In this paper we look in detail at one such setting, where a complex office configuration has the machines well spread out in a structure designed by an individual for themselves. The layout also permits pairs of users to work collaboratively and clear cases of co-operative working are observed. In order to describe this successfully, we have extended the distributed cognition approach to capture notions of intent. This Projected Cognition, as we have termed it, allows us to provide a richer description of intent, activity and context.

The Development of a Computational Notation for Synthesis of Sign and Gesture

This paper presents a review of four current notation systems used in sign language research.Their properties are discussed with a view to using such systems for synthesising sign with a computer. The evaluation leads to a proposal for a new notational approach, which distinguishes three layers of description in the production of sign. Experimental work is summarised which constrains the synthesis of signs to match the requirements of visual perception. The new notation is described in detail with illustrative example at each of the three layers. The notation is being used in experimental work on sign synthesis and it is envisaged that this work would extend to include synthesis of gesture.

Human Factors of Multi-modal Ubiquitous Computing

Multi-modal interaction with Ubiquitous Computing needs to be carefully examined for its appropriate use within systems. The importance of this analysis is highlighted through the presentation of an experimental study that demonstrates that one modality could be implicit within another.

Using Chunking to Optimise an Alpha-Beta Search

The efficiency of the alpha-beta algorithm is largely dependent on the order in which its branches are searched; a well-ordered search can give a considerable reduction in the number of nodes processed by pruning ineffectual paths. This paper describes ‘CLAMP’ (an acronym for Chunk Learning And Move Prompting) which uses ‘chunk knowledge’ to order the moves on a chessboard in their likelihood to be played. Test results show, despite CLAMP having no knowledge of the rules of chess, ordering moves by using chunk knowledge gives an approximate 50% decrease in the number of nodes searched when compared to a random ordering of the same moves. This paper focuses on the alpha-beta function within a chess-playing program but as CLAMP has no knowledge of the rules of the game the same method can be applied to optimise searching in other domains.