1.
MENTAL MODES AND HUMAN
INTERACTIONS: A CONJECTURE
By
KK Aw
July 2013

2.
Inputs
Mental
processes
Memory
Cache
New
knowledgeRecycle
Rejects
Mode B – Learning Mode
Prior
Knowledge
Characteristics
• Information is cached before processing
• Can start with minimal prior knowledge
• New knowledge created
• Information that do not make sense can be recycled
• Spurious information rejected after due study

3.
Inputs
Mental
processes
Rejects
Mode A – Production/Expert Mode
Prior
Knowledge
Things that do not resolve with
prior knowledge
Characteristics:
• Information is process immediately,
• Anything that does not make sense is rejected.
• No new knowledge created
• Significant prior knowledge must be available

4.
Inputs Mental
processes
Memory
Cache
New
Knowledge
Rejects
Mode C – Mixed Mode
Prior
Knowledge
Only spurious
information rejected.
Characteristics:
• Two level of mental process
• Preliminary scanning of information
• Processing of information from cache
• Some prior background knowledge required
• New knowledge created
• Spurious information rejected only after due study

5.
Types of Interactions
1 Expert Expert
2 Expert Practitioner
3 Expert Novice
4 Practitioner Expert
5 Practitioner Practitioner
6 Practitioner Novice
7 Novice Expert
8 Novice Practitioner
9 Novice Novice
Expert
Practitioner
Novice
Expert
Practitioner
Novice
Effectiveness of the interactions depends
on the mental modes adopted by the
participants and their ability to switch
modes as the subject changes.
Actor A Actor B

6.
Thank you for your interest.
You can read the write-up at
http://www.academia.edu/3749910