A rose by any other name...would probably be given an acronym [cognitive systems engineering

Abstract

In this article, we concern ourselves with characterizations of approaches to design of complex sociotechnical systems, and we use a biological classification scheme to organize discussion. Until fairly recently, design of complex sociotechnical systems was primarily known as engineering or systems engineering (CSE), a term introduced to denote an emerging branch of applied cognitive psychology. A number of new terms have since emerged, all of which might be considered members of genus human-centered computing (HCC). A number of have entered fray, resulting in an acronym soup of terms that have been offered to designate the new approach to cognitive engineering. Using rose metaphor, and taking some liberties with Latin, this article is organized around a set of genuses into which individual varieties seem to fall.