Unfolding: Definition, History, and Characteristics
Unfolding is a process of incrementally revealing a complex system’s structure and behavior over time. It is an iterative process of learning and discovery that can be used to uncover hidden patterns, relationships, and properties of a system (Kelley & Crabtree, 2018). Unfolding has been used in a variety of disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and psychology. It can be applied to both physical and abstract systems.
Definition
Unfolding is defined as a process of progressive disclosure of system structure and behavior. It is characterized by iterative learning and discovery, and can be used to uncover hidden patterns, relationships, and properties of a system (Kelley & Crabtree, 2018). Unfolding is distinct from traditional linear problem-solving approaches in that it is focused on uncovering the underlying structure and behavior of a system.
History
Unfolding has its roots in the work of computer scientist and cognitive psychologist Allen Newell and mathematician Herbert Simon. In the mid-1950s, the two developed the theory of “problem spaces”, which laid the foundation for the concept of unfolding (Kelley & Crabtree, 2018). In the 1970s, psychologist John Anderson developed the ACT-R cognitive architecture, which incorporated the concept of unfolding. Since then, unfolding has been used in a variety of disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and psychology.
Characteristics
Unfolding is characterized by several distinct features. First, it is an iterative process, which means that system structure and behavior are revealed over time. Second, it is a learning process, which involves constructing models of a system’s structure and behavior. Third, it is a discovery process, which involves uncovering hidden patterns, relationships, and properties of the system. Finally, it is a process of progressive disclosure, which means that structure and behavior are gradually revealed as the system is explored.
Conclusion
Unfolding is a process of incremental revealing of system structure and behavior. It is characterized by iterative learning and discovery, and can be used to uncover hidden patterns, relationships, and properties of a system. Unfolding has its roots in the work of computer scientist and cognitive psychologist Allen Newell and mathematician Herbert Simon, and has been used in a variety of disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and psychology.
References
Kelley, L. A., & Crabtree, A. N. (2018). Unfolding: Theory, methods, and applications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
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Newell, A., & Simon, H. A. (1956). The Logic Theory Machine: A complex information processing system. IRE Transactions on Information Theory, 2(3), 61–79. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIT.1956.1056821