Cognitive Artifacts in Complex Work - Ambient Intelligence for Scientific Discovery - page 177

In this discussion we maintain focus on cognitive artifacts and related in-
formation objects in the context of scientific discovery. The article and the lab
notebook offer a bottom-up perspective based on actual artifact use. The trans-
lation to design derives from both the stable, physical qualities appreciated in
the artifacts, and the cognitive use of artifacts and information objects.
We suggest a design challenge of augmenting the laboratory as a designed
information space, and to enhance inherently effective physical artifacts to af-
ford interaction with this information space. The field research into scientific
information use surfaces three opportunities:
- Redesign searchable information resources and artifacts to access informa-
tion objects, and not just retrievable artifacts.
- Activate cognitive artifacts, specifically the printed article and lab notebook,
to enable communication between these artifacts and distributed information
systems.
- Reengineer the contemporary life sciences laboratory as an intelligent envi-
ronment with pervasive access to information objects at the point of need.
Activating Cognitive Artifacts. Two primary cognitive artifacts involved
in discovery were analyzed, the research article and the lab notebook. Both of
these artifacts are significantly used and preferred in physical, printed format.
These are tangible artifacts with well-defined use characteristics, and people will
continue to work with them as tangible artifacts for the foreseeable future, re-
gardless of technology. As relatively stable genres, they provide natural platforms
for augmentation starting with minimalist interactivity.
We are encouraged by the innovation of ambient systems that start with
tangible objects that translate physical actions on workspaces, desks, and walls
to computational actions [14]. AmI designers should consider enhancing the in-
teraction of lab artifacts with various resources through specific information as-
signments to open interaction from the physical artifact to information services
and databases.
The augmented A-Book [21] demonstrates such an example of combining the
paper artifact and electronic tools for the lab notebook. Biologists cooperatively
designed the A-Book prototype as a portable system to record genetic data from
lab mice used in experiments. The paper notebook was used as a base writing
template, using an A4 size graphics tablet, a PDA, and a 4D mouse. The PDA
was used as an “interaction lens” to transparently display formats and writing
from the notebook. Gestures and interactions with this PDA filter electronically
record data from tagged objects. The recorded data can be transmitted and
viewed as high fidelity images and data. The biologists both record data in the
notebook with a pen, and interact with these recordings by interaction with
the PDA interaction lens using a non-inking pointer. While the data recording
requires somewhat belabored interaction with both notebook and a graphics
tablet/PDA interface, this prototype was very well received for its intended pur-
pose of portability. This approach portends the ability to record, transmit, and
redisplay data in real time from multiple experiments, providing experimental
data to collaborating labs, meetings, and shared information displays.