All of us know about how computer programs work. It is an organized list of instructions that, when executed, causes the computer to behave in a predetermined manner. Actually, the computer system and its programs are built quite similar to that of the human brain and its psychological processes. It is a well-known fact that computer memory emulates the model of human memory system.
During my explorations in this domain, I came across very fascinating insights. I found several metaphorical similarities between computer programs and mental programs that run inside our head. I found similarity in the purpose of Graphical User Interface (GUI) of software program and the facial expressions or body language of humans. GUI gives visibility to system status of computer. Facial expressions and body language give visibility to our mental system. We also mutter error messages and speak dialogs like the computer system does. Of course the main differentiating factor between computing system and our mental system is the consciousness of human beings. It may always stay there.
I am just unleashing my metaphorical sense to find similarities between the computer system and human system (particularly the computer programs and human mind). Please do not mind it, if you think differently.
Religion as Operating System (OS) of Human Mind
Whenever we discuss cross-platform compatibility between operating systems like Windows, Macintosh, Unix, Linux etc.; it reminds me of the religious conflicts between different religions. Such problems mainly arise from the differences in rules, beliefs and practices. Comparatively, it is less complex to manage a homogenous community (having same religion or same OS) than heterogeneous communities (having different religions or different OSs). In my view-
What an Operating System is to computer,
religion is to human mind !
I find a lot of similarity in Hinduism and open source Linux OS. As Hinduism does not have any one founder, and any one core doctrine to which controversies can be referred to for resolution. It is also marked by an attitude, which seems to accommodate several religious and cultural perspectives other than one's own. It is flexible and open for addition of new thoughts and philosophies.
Mental Programs
There are mental programs that reside and run inside our head just like the coded programs in computers. They are coded out of instructions, conditioning, social constructs, mental models, core values, beliefs, etc. And they use the relational database of knowledge and experiences conserved in our memory. The mental programs are executed when we ignite our thinking so to say. And therefore, the outcome of such processing is often not very original but a logical result. Many times, the results are quite predictable. It is like if you run a particular algorithm over certain type of data, you get certain type of results.
Just like the way you would run Microsoft Word program for preparing a document, you run mental programs in your mind, which is applicable in a given situation. Of course it is bound to involve very intricate cognitive activities that one is not conscious of.
What we claim as 'our thinking' is often not true. We should be really concerned, as the mental programs that operate inside our heads are not coded by us. Our mind is programmed by several influencing factors that include parents, friends, teachers, religious and political leaders, society, personal experiences, perceptions, etc. And therefore, I am afraid, to what extent can one own the outcome of thinking! It can be a false sense of ownership to certain choices and decisions that we make. Many decisions that you proudly claim to be yours are actually the results of such mental programs (that are coded by others).
The decisions that are a result of independent thinking (free from biases, based on factual data, clear observations, and processed with creativity) are not subjected to such fixed mental programs. Only such original thinking can be attributed as your own thinking.
Programmers of Mind
If you modify the mental program or code it (by instructing the mind) differently then the results will surely be different. For example, when the young son retorts back to parents arrogantly, the parents guess that he is in the company of bad friends who are teaching him undesirable things. Basically, they do not want the so-called bad friends to influence (program) their son.
The day I became aware of mental programs, I stopped looking at the pictures of gods and goddesses, as when I look at them, it invokes auspicious / religious feelings in me. It is a result of the mental program that operates based on the reservoir of memories and mental associations. I am doubtful whether these feelings are really mine or someone else's who instructed my mind during formative age.
I would call the religious leaders as the programmers of mind. Religious extremists are the victims of self-destructive mental programs, which are somewhat similar to computer-virus programs that destroy the system itself.
Politicians have good understanding of the mental programs predominent in a particular community. They exactly know their mental loops which are similar to the loopable functions in computer programming. Thus they can precisely say controversial and inflammatory things to invoke response from people.
Parents program the minds of their children with family values, culture, etc. Teachers program the minds of their students with academic processes and content. So they need to be more responsible. No wonder Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India prefers to spend quality time with as many children as possible. He asks them to recite an oath written by him to positively condition their minds. It is so much necessary for nation building!
Psychiatrists and counselors do the debugging of erroneous mental programs. Either they help the patient recover out of the buggy portions by instructing their mind or they just teach them how to skip the buggy parts or apply some other techniques.
Versions of Mental Programs
I keenly observe people in the workplace. I know each one has a unique version of the mental program that they use while executing a task. Some of them have upgraded the mental programs, some of them dynamically modify its code (self-instruct the mind) and some have old-fashioned hard-coded mental programs.
With this insight, I am able to predict that X will get stuck at a particular point. I guess that Y will shrug off his responsibility in a given situation. I know that Z will just keep quiet until I ask him what the problem is. And I know who will accomplish the task efficiently. And I also know who will be ready to construct a new mental program for executing unknown tasks.
Error Messages / Dialogs
It is also possible to predict the error messages and dialog boxes that many people display on their faces, which are very similar to the user interface of computer programs. Many times the dialog boxes or progress bars are designed to engage the user while computer is processing in the background. Several human responses are meant to serve same purpose. Some times we deliberately present misleading responses. But computers are not permitted to flash misleading error messages or dialog boxes.
For the given task, X will negatively respond, you ask him the reasons, he won't tell. Y will say nothing, do nothing. Maintain a poker face. You wouldn't know whether the system is hung or working? The guy will sparkle some LEDs on his face to make you feel that something is being processed! Z will be furiously processing something inside his head; his thinking expression says it all.
The stereotype replies that we often shoot are the default answers to standard situations. You know for sure, when your subordinate repeatedly says on telephone Ya Ya, Right Sir, Yes Sir, Ok Sir; he is not listening at all. Or when someone tells me 'we will get back to you', it means the matter has ended there. When a team member begins to describe how complex the task is, you can infer that he has not been able to do it. Or when I do not have definite answers, I say 'we will think about it' or 'we will take it up next time' or 'we will consider it'. All these examples are similar to the error messages or dialog boxes used in computer programs.
Actually, the human resource trainers are like 'User Interface Designers', who help you to improve communication skills. Why not, as they actually try to make people more interactive; they train them to present more polite and precise error messages and dialogs. For example, the air hostess flashes a fixed flowary dialog - Very good morning to you sir, and have a nice flight ! It is a trained response similar to a software that welcomes you after loading it.
Database and Knowledge Structures...
The training activity is actually a mass-level mental programming and data feeding exercise. The training syllabus is meant to fill up standard datasets in the heads of students. You find typical patterns in the knowledge structures and responses among the students from particular institutes. Computers are developing similar metamemorial skills in mathematics and natural language as humans. The relational database, neural networks, semantic networks are being developed quite similar to human mind and brain.
Strip off the faces of people and you can see them as heterogeneous mental systems brought up in different cultures with different mental programs running inside them. Here I arrive at my favorite standpoint. Human-computer interaction is actually the marriage of both the computer system and our mental / physical systems.
HCI research is also meant to inculcate human values in computing systems.
Don't we expect computers to be loyal, truthful and obedient to their masters? Truely, in many ways, the computer system is a microcosm of human system!
