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Objectives
Describe cognitive science.
Assess how our minds process and generate
information and knowledge.
Chapter 4 Explore cognitive informatics.
Introduction to Cognitive Science Examine artificial intelligence (AI) and its
relationship to cognitive science and
computer science.

Key Terms Defined Key Terms Defined

Artificial intelligence (AI) - is the field that deals Brain - Just as the CPU is the "brain" of the
with the conception, development and
implementation of informatics tools based on computer, our brain is our central information
intelligent technologies. This field attempts to processing unit; it is an organ that controls our
capture the complex processes of human thought central nervous system, is responsible for
and intelligence. According to the Association for
the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) cognition and the interpretation, processing
(2007b), AI is the scientific understanding of the and reaction to sensory input.
mechanisms underlying thought and intelligent
behavior and their embodiment in machines
(2).

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Key Terms Defined
Cognitive Informatics - Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory (PNNL) operated for the US
Department of Defense (2007) suggests the
disciplines of neuroscience, linguistics, artificial
intelligence and psychology make up this field.
They define CI as the multidisciplinary study of
cognition and information sciences, which
investigates human information processing
mechanisms and processes and their engineering
applications in computing (1).
Key Terms Defined
Computer Science - Branch of engineering (application
of science) that studies the theoretical foundations of
information and computation and their
implementation and application in computer systems;
study of storage/memory, conversion and
transformation, and transfer or transmission of
information in machines, that is computers, through
both algorithms and practical implementation
problems, algorithms are detailed unambiguous action
sequences in the design, efficiency and application and
practical implementation problems deal with the
software and hardware.
Key Terms Defined
Cognitive Science - The interdisciplinary field
that studies the mind, intelligence and
behavior from an information processing
perspective. According to Wikipedia (2007),
The term cognitive science was coined by
Christopher Longuet-Higgins in his 1973
commentary on the Lighthill report, which
concerned the then-current state of Artificial
Intelligence research ( 1).
Key Terms Defined
Decision Making - Output of cognition;
outcome of our intellectual processing.
Empiricism Suggests that our knowledge is
derived from our experiences or senses; while
rationalism contends that some of our
knowledge is derived from reason alone and
that reason plays an important role in the
acquisition of all of our knowledge (Holt, 5).
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Key Terms Defined
Epistemology - Study of the nature and origin
of knowledge; what it means to know.
Intelligence - Mental ability to think logically,
reason, prepare, ideate, assess alternative
solutions to problems, problem solve by
choosing a proposed solution, think abstractly,
comprehend and grasp ideas, understand and
use language, and learn.
Key Terms Defined
Knowledge - (contd)understanding that comes
through a process of interaction or experience
with world around us ; info that has judgment
applied to it or meaning extracted from it;
processed information that helps to clarify or
explain some portion of our environment or
world that we can use as a basis for action or
upon which we can act; internal process of
thinking or cognition; external process of testing,
senses, observation, interacting.
Key Terms Defined
Intuition - A way of acquiring knowledge that cannot
be obtained by inference, deduction, observation,
reason analysis or experience.
Knowledge - The awareness and understanding of a
set of information and ways that information can be
made useful to support a specific task or arrive at a
decision; abounds with others thoughts and
information; information that is synthesized so that
relationships are identified and formalized; (contd)
Key Terms Defined
Logic - A science that deals with the
principles and criteria of validity of inference
and demonstration: the science of the formal
principles of reasoning (Merriam-Webster,
2007, 1); acquiring knowledge through logic
requires reasoned action to make valid
inferences.
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Key Terms Defined
Memory - Data stored in digital format;
generally refers to random access memory
(RAM).
Mind - Brains conscious processing;
encompasses thought processes, memory,
imagination and creativity, emotions,
perceptions, inner drive or will.
Key Terms Defined
Problem Solving - Cognitive process of
critically thinking through a problem or issue
to determine a course of action.
Psychology - Study of the mind and behavior.
Rationalism - An ethical position that
contends that knowledge is derived from
deductive reasoning and not from the senses.
Key Terms Defined
Neuroscience - Study of the nervous system.
Perception - The process of acquiring
knowledge about our environment or
situation by obtaining, interpreting, selecting
and organizing sensory information from
seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and
smelling; Sensory experience foundational to
formulating knowledge.
Key Terms Defined
Reasoning - Way of thinking, calculating, interpreting
or introspectively rethinking or critically thinking
through an issue; reflective thought to reason or think
through one's ideas and alternatives.
Wisdom - Knowledge applied in a practical way or
translated into actions; uses knowledge and experience
to heighten common sense and insight to exercise
sound judgment in practical matters; sometimes
thought of as the highest form of common sense
resulting from accumulated knowledge or erudition
(deep thorough learning) or enlightenment (contd)
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Key Terms Defined
Wisdom (contd) (education that results in
understanding and the dissemination of
knowledge); it is the ability to apply valuable and
viable knowledge, experience, understanding and
insight while being prudent and sensible; is
focused on our own minds; the synthesis of our
experience, insight, understanding and
knowledge; the appropriate use of knowledge to
solve human problems. It is knowing when and
how to apply knowledge.
Introduction
The applications of cognitive science to NI
include problem solving, decision support
systems, usability issues, user-centered
interfaces and systems, and the development
and use of terminologies.
Introduction
Cognitive science is one of the basic building
blocks used to understand informatics.
It was only 50 or so years ago that computer
operations and actions were linked to
cognitive science, theories of the mind,
intellect or brain.
Cognitive Science
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary field
that studies the mind, intelligence and
behavior from an information processing
perspective.
Cognitive science is the study of the mind and
how information is processed in the mind.
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Cognitive Science
The mind is frequently compared to a
computer and experts in computer science
strive to understand how the mind processes
data and information while experts in
cognitive science attempt to model human
thinking using artificial networks provided by
computers.
Sources of Knowledge
Empiricists do not recognize innate knowledge
while rationalists believe that reason is more
essential in the acquisition of knowledge than
the senses.
There are three sources of knowledge:
instinct, reason, and intuition.
Instinct is when you react without reason such
as when a car is heading toward you and you
jump out of the way instinctively.
Cognitive Science
Cognitive science provides the scaffolding for
the analysis and modeling of complicated,
multifaceted human performance and
therefore has a tremendous affect on the
issues impacting informatics.
Sources of Knowledge
Reason Collects facts, generalizes, reasons
out from cause to effect, from effect to cause,
from premises to conclusions, from
propositions to proofs (Sivananda, 2004, 4).
Intuition is a way of acquiring knowledge that
cannot be obtained by inference, deduction,
observation, reason, analysis or experience.
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Sources of Knowledge
The sources of knowledge provide a variety of
inputs, throughputs and outputs through
which we process knowledge.
Knowledge/Wisdom and Decision
Making
The whole point in collecting and building data,
information, and knowledge is to be able to make
informed, judicious, prudent and intelligent decisions.
The decision making process evolves around
knowledge and wisdom.
It is through our efforts to understand the nature of
knowledge and its evolution to wisdom that we can
conceive of, build and implement informatics tools that
enhance and mimic our minds processes to facilitate
decision making and job performance.
Nature of Knowledge
Epistemology is the study of the nature and origin
of knowledge; what it means to know.
We have defined knowledge as the awareness
and understanding of a set of information and
ways that information can be made useful to
support a specific task or arrive at a decision; it
abounds with others thoughts and information
or is information that is synthesized so that
relationships are identified and formalized.
Cognitive Informatics
Computing and informatics theories can be applied to
help understand the information processing of the
brain and cognitive and neurological sciences can
likewise be applied to build better and more efficient
computer processing systems.
CI attempts to help bridge this gap by systematically
exploring the mechanisms of the brain and mind and
exploring specifically how information is acquired,
represented, remembered, retrieved, generated, and
communicated.
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Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the field that deals
with the conception, development and
implementation of informatics tools based on
intelligent technologies.
The challenge of this field rests in the capturing,
mimicking and creating the complex processes of
the mind in our informatics tools including
software, hardware and other machine
technologies with the goal of the tool to be able
to initiate and generate its own mechanical
thought processing.
Thought Provoking Questions
How would you describe cognitive
informatics (CI)? Reflect on a plan of care
that you have developed for a patient.
How could cognitive informatics be used
to create tools to help with this
important work?
Artificial Intelligence
The brains processing is highly intricate and
complicated.
AI uses cognitive science and computer
science to replicate and generate human
intelligence. This field will continue to evolve
and produce artificially intelligent tools to
enhance our personal and professional lives.
Thought Provoking Questions
Think of a clinical setting you are familiar
with and envision artificial intelligence
tools.
Are there any current tools in use?
What tools would enhance practice in this setting
Why?