ABSTRACT
Designing interactive computer systems to be efficient and easy to use is important so that people in our society may realize the potential benefits of computer-based tools. . . . Although modern cognitive psychology contains a wealth of knowledge of human behavior, it is not a simple matter to bring this knowledge to bear on the practical problems of design-to build an applied psychology that includes theory, data, and knowledge. (Card, Moran, & Newell, 1983, p. vii)
Integrating theory, data, and knowledge about cognitive psychology and human performance in a way that is useful for guiding design in HCI is still not a simple matter. However, there have been significant advances since Card, Moran, and Newell (1983) wrote the previous passage. One of the key advances is the development of cognitive architectures, the subject of this chapter. The chapter will first consider what it is to be a cognitive architecture and why cognitive architectures are relevant for HCI. In order to detail the present state of cognitive architectures in HCI, it is important to consider some of the past uses of cognitive architectures in HCI research. Then, three architectures actively in use in the research community (LICAI/CoLiDeS, EPIC, and ACT-R) and their application to HCI will be examined. The chapter will conclude with a discussion of the future of cognitive architectures in HCI.
