In this volume, Robert J. Sternberg and David D. Preiss bring together different perspectives on understanding the impact of various technologies on human abilities, competencies, and expertise. The inclusive range of historical, comparative, sociocultural, cognitive, educational, industrial/organizational, and human factors approaches will stimulate international multi-disciplinary discussion. Major questions that are addressed include: What is the impact of different technologies on human abilities? How does technology enhance or limit human intellectual functioning? What is the cognitive impact of complex technologies? What is the cognitive impact of the transfer of technologies? How can we design technologies that foster intellectual growth? How does technology mediate the impact of cultural variables on human intellectual functioning? Part I addresses the history of cognitive technologies and how they have evolved with culture, but at the same time helped culture evolve. Part II focuses on how educational technologies affect the ways in which students and others think. The topic of Part III is technology in the world of work.
Part IV deals with the interface between intelligence and technology. The diversity and richness of technology relates to different forms of abilities, competencies, and expertise. In consequence, many psychologists, educators, and others are interested in exploring the ways in which technology and human abilities interact, but lack a handy source of information to satisfy their interest. This book provides researchers and students in these areas with relevant perspectives and information.