Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Fundamentals of Cognitive Informatics
Cognitive informatics (CI) is a concept which combines the subjects of both the cog-
nitive science and informatics (computer science) based on information mechanisms
and processes taking place in the human brain. So cognitive informatics uses natural
intelligence merged with engineering applications in interdisciplinary research and
science. It covers the use of mathematical theories and descriptions to describe and
analyse data and information presented in the form of broad knowledge bases, as well
as engineering disciplines including computer science, cognitive science, neuropsy-
chology, system science, cybernetics, computer engineering, knowledge engineering
as well as computational engineering.
Theoretical foundations of cognitive informatics are strictly associated with
mathematical notions, and the formal models describing theories of cognitive infor-
matics are based on computational intelligence, both of humans and machines. Cog-
nitive informatics can be applied in such areas as so-called cognitive computers,
cognitive knowledge bases, cognitive simulations of human brain function, auto-
nomic agent systems, cognitive robots, avatars and computational intelligence.
The term 'cognitive informatics' originated with the beginnings of attempts to
carry out interdisciplinary research at the border of informatics, cybernetics, cogni-
tive science, neuropsychology, knowledge engineering, computational intelligence
and sciences dealing with human life. Such a combination of research was proposed
by authors of the notion of cognitive informatics in their works [142-148].
All research problems coming up in the area of cognitive informatics initially
aim at understanding the operating mechanisms of human intelligence and cogni-
tive processes taking place in a person's brain. The understanding of the operation
of the above mechanisms is then used to solve engineering problems.
The subjects of IT theories, information theories, various ways of acquiring in-
formation, of perceiving and analysing it, and of obtaining objects necessary for
the analysis processes have been researched since the time when the information
theory was introduced by contemporary informatics until today, when cognitive
informatics is developing.
The beginnings of cognitive informatics were associated with the introduction
of what is called the contemporary informatics, which studies information as an
element distinguished (acquired) from the reality around us, which can be either a
representative of a given group of information, or a completely new exception,
unknown and never analysed before. Such a perspective on information has shown
that processes of information analysis and interpretation are not simple and obvi-
ous. On the contrary, this analysis and interpretation should be based on some of
the most difficult processes currently known to science world-wide. These are
processes taking place in the human brain, because they allow us to understand the
essence of the process of reasoning using the information possessed and also lead
to the correct analysis of that information.
