ABSTRACT
As tasks have become more complicated, the flexibility of activity during task performance has significantly increased. This is particularly the case for computer-based tasks. In modeling and design of flexible activity, the concept of orienting activity is particularly useful. In the following discusion, we concentrate on orienting activity. This activity is explorative, or gnostic, in nature and, therefore, very flexible. The main characteristic of orienting activity is its dynamic reflection of the situation. The cognitive processes performed serve reflective, regulative, and evaluative functions. In orienting activity, cognition initially focuses on reflective functions. Reflection may be depicted by the following scheme (Platonov, 1982).
