1st Edition
Cognition and Tool Use Forms of Engagement in Human and Animal Use of Tools
The ability to use tools is a distinguishing feature of human beings. It represents a complex psychomotor activity that we are only now beginning to comprehend. Robust new theoretical accounts allow us to better understand how people use tools and explain differences in human and animal tool use from the perspective of cognitive science.
Our understanding needs to be grounded upon research into how people use tools, which draws upon many disciplines, from ergonomics to anthropology to cognitive science to neuropsychology. Cognition and Tool Use: Forms of Engagement in Human and Animal Use of Tools presents a single coherent account of human tool use as a complex psychomotor activity. It explains how people use tools and how this activity can succeed or fail, then describes the design and development of usable tools. This book considers contemporary tool use in domains such as surgery, and considers future developments in human-computer interfaces, such as haptic virtual reality and tangible user interfaces.
No other single text brings together the research from the different disciplines, ranging from archaeology and anthropology to psychology and ergonomics, which contribute to this topic. Graduate students, professionals, and researchers will find this guide to be invaluable.
Introduction
What Is a Tool?
Tools as "Augmentation Means"
Everyday Cognition
Forms of Engagement
The Structure of the Book
How Animals Use Tools
Introduction
Tool Use by Invertebrates and Fish
Tool Use by Birds
Tool Use by Mammals
Motor Engagement: Pre-Adaptive or Goal-Directed?
Discussion
Tool Use by Primates and Young Children
Introduction
Tool Use by Chimpanzee Observed in the Wild
Tool Use by Other Primates Observed in the Wild
Primate Tool Use in Captivity
Primate and Human Infant Development
Cultural Engagement
Discussion
The Making of Tools
Introduction
Making Stone Tools
Studies of Primates Working Stone
Types of Stone Tool
Cultural Engagement
Discussion
Working with Tools
Introduction
Tacit Knowledge
Forms of Engagement
Discussion
The Design of Tools
Introduction
Anthropometry of the Human Hand
Properties of Tools
Using Tools: Posture, Balance, and Activity
Basic Principles of Tool Design
The Semantics of Tools
Introduction
Product Semantics
Signifying Form
Aesthetics
Signifying Function
Signifying Operation
Tools as "objects to think with"
Cultural Significations
Physical Tools/Cognitive Tools
Discussion
How Tool Use Breaks Down
Introduction
Human Error
Accidents and Injuries when Using Tools
Tool Use and Motor Impairment
Apraxia
Discussion
Cognitive Artifacts
Introduction
Artifacts and Human Performance
Activity Flow
Tools as Cognitive Artifacts
Discussion
Tools in the Twenty-First Century
Introduction
Divisions of Labor/Allocation of Function
Virtual Tools
Real Objects in Virtual Space
Discussion
Towards a Theory of Tool Use
Introduction
Cognition
Environmental and Morphological Engagement: Types of
Affordance
Motor Engagement: Task Specific Devices
Perceptual Engagement: Interpreting Feedback
Cognitive Engagement: Cognitive Schema
Cultural Engagement: Representing Activity
Discussion
Conclusions
Introduction
Forms of Engagement
Contrasting Animal with Human Tool Use
Developing a Theory of Tool Use
Relating Schema to Forms of Engagement
Influencing Design
Discussion
Biography
Baber\, Christopher
"Whilst sets of guidelines for design of handles etc. are readily available within the ergonomics literature, Baber summarizes much of this material succinctly and usefully within the book. … In sum, this is a useful, interesting, and entertaining read that draws upon a wide literature to embed an analysis of an ancient ... human activity within a theoretical framework. … [I]t is a refreshing to review a book that has such wide appeal and relevance. It is easy to imagine the book being useful to development psychologists, archaeologists, or ethologists almost as much as to ergonomists. "
- Ergonomics, Vol. 48, No. 4, March 2005
