Distributed CognitionDistributed CognitionHow a Cockpit Remembers Its

SpeedsEdwin Hutchins

How a Cockpit Remembers Its Speeds

Edwin Hutchins

Classical Cognitive Science

Classical Cognitive Science

Thinking about thinkingMental processesIndividual human agentHow information is represented

TransformedCombinedPropagated

Nature of knowledge

Thinking about thinkingMental processesIndividual human agentHow information is represented

TransformedCombinedPropagated

Nature of knowledge

Distributed CognitionDistributed Cognition

Unit of analysisProcesses within systemRepresentations

ExternalInternal

Unit of analysisProcesses within systemRepresentations

ExternalInternal

Cognitive SystemsCognitive Systems

OrganizationsRole of material mediaPhysical processes

Human actorsMaterial mediaInteractions

Explicit nature of environment

OrganizationsRole of material mediaPhysical processes

Human actorsMaterial mediaInteractions

Explicit nature of environment

Context: MD-80 CockpitContext: MD-80 Cockpit

Representations inside cockpit system

External to pilotsProcedure = behavioral propertiesConstraint-basedWorkers-finish-design

Representations inside cockpit system

External to pilotsProcedure = behavioral propertiesConstraint-basedWorkers-finish-design

Task: Memory TaskTask: Memory Task

Remembrance of speedsFor subsequent use For proper & safe

Initial descentApproach to landInstrument landing

Remembrance of speedsFor subsequent use For proper & safe

Initial descentApproach to landInstrument landing

Artifacts: Wing ShapeArtifacts: Wing Shape

Artifacts: Speed Card & Fuel

Artifacts: Speed Card & Fuel

Artifacts: ASI & Speed Bugs

Artifacts: ASI & Speed Bugs

Actors: Pilot RolesActors: Pilot Roles

Two pilots/stationsComplete dual-flight instrumentationsPilot Flying (PF)Pilot Not Flying (PNF)

Two pilots/stationsComplete dual-flight instrumentationsPilot Flying (PF)Pilot Not Flying (PNF)

Process DescriptionProcess Description

Prepare landing data (20 - 30 min. out)Determine gross weight (Fuel Qty)Find correct speed card (2000 lb. incr)Post speed cardSet speed bugs on both ASIs

Descent - slow plane & configure wingsFinal approach to land - Vref

[Cross-checks & verbal communication]

Prepare landing data (20 - 30 min. out)Determine gross weight (Fuel Qty)Find correct speed card (2000 lb. incr)Post speed cardSet speed bugs on both ASIs

Descent - slow plane & configure wingsFinal approach to land - Vref

[Cross-checks & verbal communication]

Cognitive Description-External

Cognitive Description-External

How are speeds represented?How are representations

Transformed,Processed,Coordinated?

How does the system’s memory work?

How are speeds represented?How are representations

Transformed,Processed,Coordinated?

How does the system’s memory work?

Observable Representations

Observable Representations

Gross-weight display (Fuel Qty)Speed card bookletASIs & speed bugsSpeed-select of Flight DirectorVerbal exchanges between pilots

Setting bugsCross-checksCall-outs /progress reports

Gross-weight display (Fuel Qty)Speed card bookletASIs & speed bugsSpeed-select of Flight DirectorVerbal exchanges between pilots

Setting bugsCross-checksCall-outs /progress reports

Additional RepresentationsAdditional Representations

Memory of each pilotIndividual considered as part of

systemMedia in the cockpit

Task environment forms memoryInternal representations

Memory of each pilotIndividual considered as part of

systemMedia in the cockpit

Task environment forms memoryInternal representations

Speed Card & Gross Weight

Speed Card & Gross Weight

Long-term memoryGross weightAppropriate speeds

Functionally durableFiltered information

Correct weight = correct speedsDistributed access

Social spaceKnowledge

Long-term memoryGross weightAppropriate speeds

Functionally durableFiltered information

Correct weight = correct speedsDistributed access

Social spaceKnowledge

Distribution & TransformationDistribution &

TransformationTransformations of representations

Verbal (as relayed between PNF & PF)Via speed bug settings

Cross-checking & redundancyTime-critical procedure indications

Transformations of representationsVerbal (as relayed between PNF & PF)Via speed bug settings

Cross-checking & redundancyTime-critical procedure indications

Configuration ChangesConfiguration Changes

Speed determinedATC instructionPosition in approach

ASI needle nears appropriate bugPF calls for flap/slat configurationPNF configures flaps/slatsVerification & cross-checks

(with speed card)

Speed determinedATC instructionPosition in approach

ASI needle nears appropriate bugPF calls for flap/slat configurationPNF configures flaps/slatsVerification & cross-checks

(with speed card)

Salmon Speed BugSalmon Speed Bug

Final approach speed reference (Vref)

Spatial relation with ASI needlePF to track speedPNF to determine deviations

Verbal representation of call-outsLightens demand on visual load of PF

Final approach speed reference (Vref)

Spatial relation with ASI needlePF to track speedPNF to determine deviations

Verbal representation of call-outsLightens demand on visual load of PF

External Representations Summary

External Representations Summary

Speed bugs Resource for later processesDurable working memory

Coordinated representationsVerbalSpeed card/fuel qtyConfigurations

“System memory”

Speed bugs Resource for later processesDurable working memory

Coordinated representationsVerbalSpeed card/fuel qtyConfigurations

“System memory”

Cognitive Description-Internal

Cognitive Description-Internal

Cognitive tasks of pilotsTask specification

Not procedural recountProvide constraints on useable

RepresentationsProcesses

Interpretation not recallFunction in system memory

Cognitive tasks of pilotsTask specification

Not procedural recountProvide constraints on useable

RepresentationsProcesses

Interpretation not recallFunction in system memory

Speed Card & Gross Weight

Speed Card & Gross Weight

Pattern matchingImplicit learningInternal structure for prediction

Interpret valuesCard designWorking memory

Setting bugs - varied sequences

Pattern matchingImplicit learningInternal structure for prediction

Interpret valuesCard designWorking memory

Setting bugs - varied sequences

Configuration Change Bugs

Configuration Change Bugs

Numerical relationsSpatial positionSpace of speeds

“Configuration zones”Superimposing representationsFunctional systems

Numerical relationsSpatial positionSpace of speeds

“Configuration zones”Superimposing representationsFunctional systems

Configuration ZonesConfiguration Zones

Salmon Speed BugSalmon Speed Bug

Numerical relationScale of ASI and need positioning

Spatial proximityScale-reading task

Base of salmon bugVerbal call-out - aural cue

Numerical relationScale of ASI and need positioning

Spatial proximityScale-reading task

Base of salmon bugVerbal call-out - aural cue

Notion of MemoryNotion of Memory

Traditionally a psychological functionA series of tasks in a functional system

Recognition & recallPattern matchingCross-modal transformations

Distributed Among human agentsBetween human agentsTransformed external representations

Traditionally a psychological functionA series of tasks in a functional system

Recognition & recallPattern matchingCross-modal transformations

Distributed Among human agentsBetween human agentsTransformed external representations

Workers Finish the DesignWorkers Finish the Design

Provides constraints and artifactsSalmon bug

Engineer’s designEase of locationEase of interpolation

Pilot’s useDetermine 5-kt. deviationsNot anticipated by designer (engineer)

Provides constraints and artifactsSalmon bug

Engineer’s designEase of locationEase of interpolation

Pilot’s useDetermine 5-kt. deviationsNot anticipated by designer (engineer)

Cockpit as Cognitive System

Cockpit as Cognitive System

Unit of analysisTransforms & propagates

informationUse of representationsNotion of memory taskRedundant & robust

Unit of analysisTransforms & propagates

informationUse of representationsNotion of memory taskRedundant & robust