Tools and systems that extend, amplify, or simulate human mental capabilities—memory, reasoning, perception, and decision-making. Writing is a cognitive technology; so is the abacus, the spreadsheet, and the GPS navigation system. These are not just information storage devices; they are thinking prosthetics that transform the very nature of the cognitive task. A pilot flying with an autopilot isn't "not thinking"; they are thinking in a different, technologically-mediated way. Cognitive Technologies are the externalized hardware of the mind.
Cognitive Technologies Example: Google Maps is a Cognitive Technology. It doesn't just store map data; it actively performs spatial reasoning you would otherwise have to do, presenting you with a optimized route. Your brain no longer needs to build a mental model of the city's geography; the tool builds it for you. This is cognitive offloading—and the technology becomes part of your extended mind.
by Dumu The Void February 11, 2026
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