ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author seeks to study cognitive system in the wild. The reverberations of technology change and observations of cognitive work in the wild lead to an idea that can serve as a unifying theme. There is a reciprocal relationship or mutual shaping between properties of external artifacts and the cognitive activities distributed within the cognitive system. The author explores fields of practice where highly trained practitioners do cognitive work under time pressure, uncertainty and stress. Heuristic and algorithmic technologies expand the range of subtasks and cognitive activities that can be automated. Automated resources can in principle offload practitioner tasks. Computerized systems can be developed that assess or diagnose the situation at hand, alerting practitioners to various concerns and advising practitioners on possible responses. In studying cognitive systems in the wild are concerned with cognitive work within complex fields of practice.
