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.