Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2014
Abstract
Hackers seek out weaknesses in computers and networks that can be used to steal data or impact the functionality of the Internet. In the general sense, a hacker is a technologist with a love for computers and a "hack" is an inventive solution executed through non-obvious means. Hackers speak the language of code which propels the evolution of our information technology. This makes hackers the solvers of our largest, most complex issues facing technological systems. In consequence, they are experts at solving poorly understood and challenging technical problems in a variety of settings requiring deep understanding of technical detail and imagination. This research aims to identify the brain-based skills needed to carry out hacking from the simplest to most complex levels to understand how the most impactful innovators of the technology age solve our most complicated problems.
Keywords
cognitive psychology, Weatherhead School of Management, hackers, cognition, mental models, learning, forward thinking
Rights
© The Author(s). This is an open access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Summers, Timothy C., "How Hackers Think: Understanding the Mental Models and Cognitive Patterns of High-Tech Wizards" (2014). Student Scholarship. 243.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/243