Distributed Cognition involves using the information processing cognition model but applied to work that involves more than just a single person. See Cognition and Human Information Processing for more information on Human Information Processing. Distributed Cognition looks at the performance, and co-ordination of collaborative work and it draws from fields of study such as cognitive science, sociology and anthropology.

In distributed cognition, the use of objects and tools in the cognitive process is analysed. Pen, notepads, sticky notes etc... can all be part of the cognitive process. Objects such as these which are used in this cognitive process are known as "artefacts". They can act as memory aids and general extensions of a person's mental processes. As well as being distributed over multiple objects, distributed cognition be distributed over a number of co-operating people.

A functional system of activity is an overall system which works toward the solving of problems. This functional system of activity is made up of separate parts which either transform or simply represent information. The way these parts inter-operate with each other creates the overall behaviour of the system given different inputs. In a distributed cognitive system, there are several components linked with the information processing component.

All the parts involved in the distributed cognitive framework are shown below:

- Sensory mechanism - receives external inputs and passes them to the information processing unit.
- Memory
- Information processor
- Action generator - produces actions or representational output / feedback

This distributed cognitive framework allows for different people to operate as different parts of the cognitive system. The focus is no longer on the individual but on the collaborative behaviour of the many.

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