Towards a Social Interaction-based Cognition Model: An Analysis of Spatial Data Infrastructure

Distributed cognition is a psychological theory which assumes that knowledge lies not only within the individual but also in the individual's social and physical environment. Today, we tend to achieve cognitive results by means of a sequence of complex and subtly interwoven interactions, using technological devices, and with the help of other, more knowledgeable people. As dwellers of a new century, we are agents of a novel technological assembly where knowledge is socially produced, and nurtured by the various sources of many communities of practice (CoP). In this paper we propose a social interaction-based cognition model which applies distributed cognition and interoperability between different actors of CoP in a web environment. The core components of the model are Authenticity and Coupling, Assemblage and Shared Meanings. We also present the main findings of qualitative research in a case of study to Spatial Data Infraestructure (SDI) and CoP around this technological assemblies.