ABSTRACT
Humans and artefacts have traditionally been considered as separate
systems that perforce must interact. CSE proposes that the human-
artefact ensemble be seen as a joint cognitive system in its own right,
and that design and analysis starts from this level. Joint cognitive
systems can be defined recursively and accentuate the necessity to
provide clear definitions of the boundaries and the capabilities of the
systems
INTRODUCTION
In Chapter 3, the concept of joint cognitive systems was introduced by
referring to Stafford Beer’s definition of a system, which emphasised the
system’s functions rather than its structure. For CSE, however, the most
important thing is not that a system, such as the woman-cum-scissors,
produces something but that it performs in a controlled or orderly manner. It
is clear that control is required in order to produce something, although
control by itself does not mean that something is produced – other than
orderly behaviour. A line dancer, for instance, is in control of what s/he does,
which is to keep balance and avoid falling to the ground, but there are no
tangible products as a result of doing that.
