The Cognitive Systems Laboratory focuses on cognitive engineering, where the challenge is to understand and improve the capacity of joint human-technology systems. This research has considered technology insertion in the maritime industry, ground transportation, tele-operation, and process control. A specific example is the distraction potential of in-vehicle information systems, such as cellular telephones and e-mail. Another example is the role of trust and appropriate reliance in the supervisory control of automation, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In each of these examples, the ultimate goal is to develop computational models of human performance and design principles that can support effective and humane use of technology.

The common theme of understanding how technology mediates peoples' attention integrates our research across the varied research domains of maritime navigation, process control, and driving. Technology-mediated attention builds upon the basic psychological concepts of attention to understand how technology must be shaped so that people attend to the right thing at the right time and respond appropriately. By understanding how technology can mediate attention, we create display and control systems that enable people to work effectively with increasingly sophisticated technology.

Students in the CSL learn how to conduct experiments in microworld and simulator environments that include the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS). They also learn techniques of computational cognitive engineering to model joint human-technology behavior, estimate the state of the operator, and enhance data interpretation.