Assignments

Requirements/Guidelines for each assignment type:

Readings + Reflections

Submit 1/2 page reflections
Discussions, things you found interesting / unexpected / strange, questions, how does this relate to your interests and projects…
Not a summary

Mini-Design Exercises

pick a problem in the focus area that affects a significant number of people
do research to read up on the problem and its symptoms, as well as existing designs/research
propose a creative, novel solution
present your design sketch in class (1 min)
also upload on form as 1/2-1 page, or sketches, drawings, video, …

Final Group Project

develop one of your designs
do further research into related science, user needs, relevant technologies, etc.
prototype/implement a version of your design
present your design (intermediate week 7 & final week 13) in class:
- problem, related work, novel approach, use case, what did you learn, future work
write up final project

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Week 1: Intro

1) Reading + Reflection

In preparation for class, please read these two readings, which deal with what cognitive augmentation is and why we should care about it. Please submit your reactions and reflections on the readings here before class–we will use these to inform the discussion!

Three Ways to Advance Science — Nick Bostrom

Augmenting Human Intellect and Amplifying Perception and Cognition – Albrecht Schmidt

Week 2: Augmenting Memory

1) Reading + Reflection

In preparation for the next class, please read the following excerpt from a thesis that gives a preview of the 1) frameworks on how human memory works and 2) technologies for augmenting memory (in the field of Human-Computer Interactions). Please submit your reactions and reflections here before class — these will be used to guide our in-class discussions.

Augmenting Human Prospective Memory Through Cognition-Aware Technologies

2) Mini-Design Exercise

Create one slide with your idea for a system that could augment or support some target user group with a memory related issue. This can be high level and does not necessarily have to be realizable with today’s technologies. Examples can be found at the top of the Google Slides document where you will upload your design. To be done before class as well. — Students will present their slides 2-min each during class.

Week 3: Sleep engineering

1) Reading + Reflection

Read the readings and submit a reflection

Sleeping in a Brave New World

Pick one from below:

Whole Night Continuous Rocking Entrains Spontaneous Neural Oscillations With Benefits for Sleep and Memory

Targeted dream incubation at sleep onset increases post-sleep creative performance

Sleep disruption by memory cues selectively weakens reactivated memories

2) Create your profile on the google slides!

3) Mini-Design Exercise

Submit here! (should be focused on sleep!)

Week 4: Enhancing Reasoning & Decision Making

1) Readings + Reflections

Submit your reflections (1/2 page) here

Summary of cognitive biases – Tversky and Kahneman

Heuristics and biases: The Science of Decision making – Steve Dale

Reflexive and Reflective Judgment Processes: A Social Cognitive Neuroscience Approach –Lieberman

Optional:

Don’t Just Tell Me, Ask Me: AI Systems that Intelligently Frame Explanations as Questions Improve Human Logical Discernment Accuracy over Causal AI explanations – Valdemar Danry et al.

Wearable Reasoner – Valdemar Danry et al.

2) Form groups

In addition, please take a look at the profiles of your colleagues on the course website so that we can start forming small teams of 2-3 people for the group projects.