Cognitive modeling and its application for the development of socially adept technologies

In this paper we would like to propose that the methodology of cognitive modeling can provide an approach to the implementation of socially adept technologies and the evaluation of its usability. We base this approach on the assumption that representations play an essential role in mediating social relations. Cognitive representations and their causal link to the social and physical environments have been recognized as an essential element for understanding social relations. The challenge is to port cognitive modeling methodology into the realm of socially adept technologies. The first section briefly presents the state of development of a modeling environment aimed at supporting usability testing of sociotechnical systems. The second section will give an overview of an application intended to support social and personal awareness in a web-based learning environment. This application maps usersÕ identity, usersÕ behavior, and shared information content into a model of human memory.