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Cognitive Science: What Is It, and How Can I Study It at RPI?

Cognitive Science: What Is It, and How Can I Study It at RPI?. What is Cognitive Science?. Cognitive Science: Aspects of Cognition. Cognitive science is the science of cognition, which includes such things as: perception action learning memory attention reasoning decision-making

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Cognitive Science: What Is It, and How Can I Study It at RPI?

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  1. Cognitive Science:What Is It, and How Can I Study It at RPI?

  2. What is Cognitive Science?

  3. Cognitive Science:Aspects of Cognition • Cognitive science is the science of cognition, which includes such things as: • perception • action • learning • memory • attention • reasoning • decision-making • language use

  4. Cognitive Science:Kinds of Minds • Cognitive Science can be seen as the study of mind, but these minds can be: • human minds • animal minds • computer minds • robot minds • alien minds • group minds • or whatever minds

  5. Cognitive Science:Fields of Study • Cognitive science is an inherently interdisciplinary study; it is informed by, and has applications in: • philosophy • psychology • computer science • neuroscience • linguistics • anthropology • biology • education • mathematics • robotics

  6. Cognitive Science as one of the ‘Basic’ Sciences • At some point in the future, cognitive science will be regarded as one of the ‘basic’ sciences, in line with physics, chemistry, and biology. • Indeed, I believe that cognitive technology is going to be the next ‘revolution’ in technology. • We will have Cogno-Engineering (autonomous intelligent machines, brain interfaces) … • and Cogno-Ethics!

  7. What can I do with Cognitive Science? • Cognitive Science (and Cognitive Technology) can be used to analyze, describe, predict, correct, augment, and create minds. Some specific applications: • Cognitive Modeling • Human Computer Interaction • Artificial Intelligence • Cognitive Robotics • Cognitive Engineering

  8. Cognitive Modeling • Cognitive Models can analyze cognitive behavior at small time-scales, thus e.g. predict the effects of texting while driving

  9. Human-Computer Interaction • Cognitive Science could lead to more effective and efficient Human-Computer Interaction.

  10. Artificial Intelligence

  11. Facial Recognition Technology • Imagine arriving at a hotel to be greeted by name, because a computer has analyzed your appearance at the front door. …”Your phone … can tell you the name of that person at the party whose name you always forget … or it will tell the stalker in the bar the address where you live” -Yesterday’s Poly

  12. Cognitive Robotics Robocup Can we make the Curiosity rover more autonomous by giving it Intelligence? Create: the Roomba that doesn’t suck!

  13. Cognitive Engineering • Cognitive Ergonomics • Cognitive Mediation • Cognitive Prosthetics • Cognitive Augmentation • Cognitive Computing

  14. Cognitive Ergonomics • Cognitive ergonomically designed tools should ‘fit’ our abilities to take in and process information, and act on it. ‘Smart Cockpit’ (really?)

  15. Cognitive Mediation Taking this a step further … Craig Mundie, Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer: “Today, we find ourselves embarking on one of the biggest transformations in computing ever, where the computer shifts from being a tool to being a helper” Better interfacing with Tom Cruise!

  16. Cognitive Prosthetics Even further … Using EEG’s (brain waves measured at scalp), patients that can’t move their arms learn to control a cursor on a screen - Wadsworth Research Lab, Albany, NY Sensory Substitution Former blind, Jens Naumann can now see good enough to ‘drive slowly around in a parking lot’ thanks to a brain vision implant Seeing with Sound See with tongue

  17. Cognitive Augmentation Australian Art-Performer Stelarc has a third arm which he can control using his abdominal muscles

  18. Cognitive Computing

  19. ???

  20. How can I Study Cognitive Science at RPI?

  21. Cognitive Science at RPI • In 1991-1992, the Philosophy Department merged with the Psychology Department to form the Department of Philosophy, Psychology, and Cognitive Science. • In 2003, this became the Department of Cognitive Science, one of only about 15 dedicated Departments of Cognitive Science in the world • In 2004, we created a PhD program in Cognitive Science • In the Spring of 2010, the B.S. undergraduate program in Cognitive Science was approved • About 20 faculty • Relevant Laboratories / Research Groups: • CogWorks Lab (Cognitive Modeling) • RAIR Lab (Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning) • PandA Lab (Perception and Action, Virtual Reality) • Human-Level Intelligence Lab • Cognitive Architecture Lab • Cognitive Robotics Lab • Sim Lab (Synthetic Characters)

  22. Majors, Minors, and Concentrations • Majors: • COGS • PSYC • PHIL • When you dual major with COGS, PHIL, or PSYC, required courses can count towards H&SS requirement • Minors: • Minor in COGS: 4 relevant courses, including Introduction to Cognitive Science. Minds and Machines counts as 1 of the 4. • ‘Cognition’ minor in PSYC • ‘Logic, Computation, and Mind’ minor in PHIL • Concentrations: • IT has Cognitive Science concentration • GSAS has Cognitive Science concentration

  23. Core Curriculum for BS in Cognitive Science • Minds and Machines • Introduction to Cognitive Science • Introduction to Logic • Experimental Methods and Statistics • Cognitive Psychology • Cognitive Neuroscience • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence • Cognitive Modeling • Sensation and Perception • Knowledge and Rationality • Undergraduate Thesis

  24. What Can I do With a Cognitive Science BS? • Rich Skill Set: • Programming/Modeling • Empirical Data Collection and Evaluation • Complex Systems Analysis • Critical Thinking • Communication • Careers (industry, academics) in Computer Science (AI), Engineering (Robotics, Biomed), Psychology (Cognitive Modeling, Human Factors), Philosophy (Cogno-Ethics), IT (HCI), Decision Sciences, Economics, Anthropology, Social Sciences, Education, Law, etc.

  25. Possible Dual Majors • COGS / CSCI • COGS / MATH • COGS / GSAS

  26. I am interested in the B.S. in Cognitive Science. What should I do? • Contact the Director Of Undergraduate Studies In Cognitive Science: • Bram van Heuveln • heuveb@rpi.edu

  27. I am interested in Cognitive Science, but don’t want to do a whole B.S. • OK, you can still: • Declare a minor • Come to the Issues in Cognitive Science lecture series (every Wednesday from 12 to 1:30) during which guest speakers, faculty, and students share their latest ideas • Join the Minds & Machines Program • Join and get actively involved in any of our other research labs and research groups • In all cases, contact the Director: • Bram van Heuveln, heuveb@rpi.edu

  28. Minds & Machines Program in Cognitive Technology • The Minds & Machines Program provides opportunities for students to work in the fields of: • Artificial Intelligence • Cognitive Robotics • Synthetic Characters • Do independent, or student-led projects and research in AI Lab and/or Cognitive Robotics Lab. • Interested? Contact Bram: heuveb@rpi.edu

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