Ruminations on our relationship with technology
To understand how technologies affect our minds and lives, we may ask: How do technologies shape the way we think? That is, what types of tools, machines, or media work best for what kinds of thinking? Cognitive science, which makes up part of the Educational Topics on this site, can help shed light on this question.
In brief, cognitive science studies how our minds process information—for example, how we think, feel, and make decisions. Closely related to is the field of artificial intelligence (AI), which studies how machines can (or can’t) do the same. To explore ideas from these topics, select any of the articles below.
What’s zero shot learning performance in AI? Zero-shot learning performance in artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive automation is getting more scrutiny. So, I thought I’d take time to look at what zero-shot learning is, as well as review research on it. To understand zero-shot learning, however, we have to understand machine learning in AI. Machine … Read more
Yes, bots can imitate language – but no, they don’t understand what they’re saying Every technological revolution seems to bring its own hype, and the boom of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is no exception. There’s no shortage of hype, for instance, about large language models (LLMs), the technology behind chatbots and voice assistants. This technology … Read more
Is generative AI going through a hype cycle? Technological innovation often goes through what’s called a hype cycle. Represented graphically, there’s a peak of inflated expectations about some supposedly revolutionary technology, followed by a trough of disillusionment. Then, there’s a gradual slope of enlightenment, or understanding what the technology realistically can and can’t do. Finally, … Read more
Why do social media amplify outrage and division? One of the reasons I don’t sign up for most social networking sites is that they seem to bring out the worst in us. Nowadays, there’s never a shortage of angry outbursts on social media. In fact, Nature Human Behavior, a cognitive and behavioral science journal, recently … Read more
Are AI chatbots examples of general intelligence or cognitive automation? As artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT become famous, I can’t help but notice how a perpetual topic of debate about AI continues to reemerge. Are these chatbots examples of general intelligence or cognitive automation? To understand this debate, let’s briefly define what we mean … Read more
Are e-books or e-readers good technologies for reading? Summary: There are key differences between screen media and print media, and these differences make books better than screens for reading, especially deep reading. But what about e-books? Are e-readers good technologies for reading too? Interestingly, although they’re technically screens, e-readers have features that imitate books. Consequently, … Read more
Why Screens Are Better Than Books For Interactive Learning Summary: Although books are good for deep reading that requires focusing, recalling, and reflecting upon what you learn, screens are better than books for interactive kinds of learning, such as presenting dynamic content or simulating game-like interfaces. Thus, screens work well for activities like visualization, navigation, … Read more
Why Books Are Better Than Screens for Reading Summary: Screens are good for skimming when you need to scan text, search or sift through information, and find content quickly. But books are better than screens for deep reading that requires focusing, recalling, and reflecting upon what you learned. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was already … Read more
Scaffolding memory and thought … in the name of love! One Friday, as my wife and I came home after a long work week, she asked me what I felt like doing that evening. We decided to order a pizza, crash on the couch, and watch a movie. Pulling up Netflix, we cued a comedy … Read more