Précis to a practical unified theory of cognition and action: Some lessons from EPIC computational models of human multiple-task performance

摘要: Abstract : Experimental psychology, cognitive science, and human factors engineering have progressed sufficiently far that a practical unified theory of cognition action is now foreseeable. Such soon may yield useful quantitative predictions about rapid multiple task performance in applied settings. Toward this end, an Executive-Process/Interactive-Control (EPIC) architecture has been formulated with components whose assumed properties emulate fundamental perceptual, cognitive, motor processes. On the basis EPIC, theorist construct detailed computational models characterize under both laboratory real world conditions. For example, EPIC provide good accounts response latencies accuracies from psychological refractory period procedure, aircraft cockpit operation, computer interaction. As result, major commonalities across various domains discovered, efficacious principles for designing person machine interfaces identified. The substantive methodological lessons learned these advances constitute instructive precis to further utilitarian theoretical unification.