Cognitive Science

Test 1 / 2002

Modified: 2/7/2002


Instructions: Due before 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 14.

Use the CS main page and e-mail sent to you as the source for your answers. You may submit your answers as hard copy or as e-mail (either as straight e-mail or as a Word attachment). Choose the method with which you are more comfortable.

Answers should be legible (i.e., not hand written), complete, thoughtful, and articulate. You may consult with me via e-mail as you develop your answers (probably a good strategy). Shoot for at least one page per question and do not simply copy and paste answers. Use quotes to indicate sources you found elsewhere and provide URLs or references where appropriate. Failure to properly cite sources may lead to a grade of zero for that item!


1. Describe the history of cognitive science. Briefly discuss the classic questions in philosophy which now interest cognitive science. Then, fast forward to the 20th century. When does cognitive science emerge? What are the disciplines which have contributed to cognitive science. Predict the future of cognitive science (i.e., the next 50 years).
2. Discuss the main technical aspects of the Web and the Internet. Be sure to cover client-server, peer to peer (P2P), TCP/IP, packet switching, bandwidth, and DNS. Walk me through the process of a user making a request to the CS page using as many of these terms as you can.
3. Represent yourself in as many ways as you can. For each representation describe the domain, content, code, medium, and dynamics of the representation.
4. Discuss the concept of interface. Use the section in the CS pages (http://act9.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/Courses/CS/topinterfaces.html) about the 10 top interfaces in history as a guide. What is an interface? Why are the 10 instances such good examples of interface. Finally, nominate three more interfaces for inclusion in the list.
5. What is an algorithm? What is a heuristic? Give an example of each. Which is more important to human behavior? Why?

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