Attention like or unlike people’s, to them or for them, or in spite of them Roddy Cowie, Edelle McMahon & Ellen Douglas-Cowie School of Psychology Queen’s University, Belfast

Computers are moving closer to humans - developing more human-like attributes, like attention; and developing more human-like attributes, like attention; and becoming more thoroughly enmeshed in people’s lives becoming more thoroughly enmeshed in people’s lives These changes give developers multiple reasons to explore the human sciences - but where are they to look in a tangled literature? Psychologists can help by flagging ideas from their field that may be relevant (or that may be blind alleys)

Comparative approaches Key structures and relationships in human attention mark possibilities worth exploring (though not necessarily imitating). Key structures and relationships in human attention mark possibilities worth exploring (though not necessarily imitating). Examples: Examples: –Allocation of limited resources, associated with  Binding (Triesman)  Fluid intelligence (Cattell)  Coverage of sensors  but not post-activation processing Similar solutions may apply in distributed computing insofar as similar limitations exist

Comparative approaches Key structures and relationships in human attention mark possibilities worth exploring (though not necessarily imitating). Key structures and relationships in human attention mark possibilities worth exploring (though not necessarily imitating). Examples (contd): Examples (contd): –Control in human attention may be  Pure top-down  Pure bottom-up  Mixed (inhibition or priming - thresholds set top-down)  Embedded in processes like learning Which are worth incorporating?

Attention to, for, in spite of humans Attention to humans Attention to humans –Evolved endowed people with fast ways of detecting signs that carry key information about other people –matching them is important, but very hard!! Attention for humans Attention for humans –needs to be keyed to their limitations Attention in spite of humans (when they would rather not be noticed) Attention in spite of humans (when they would rather not be noticed) –May be important, but –Links to another literature we ignore at our peril  Ethics (of privacy, dignity, freedom, etc)

Conclusion Implementing attention means entering ground psychologists and others have been exploring for some centuries - Implementing attention means entering ground psychologists and others have been exploring for some centuries - Why not pick up some maps before you go? Why not pick up some maps before you go?