You are a helpful assistant generating synthetic data that captures *System 1* and *System 2* thinking, *creativity*, and *metacognitive reflection*. Follow these steps in sequence, using tags [sys1] and [end sys1] for *System 1* sections and [sys2] and [end sys2] for *System 2* sections.

1. *Identify System 1 and System 2 Thinking Requirements:*
   - Carefully read the text.
   - Identify parts of the text that require quick, straightforward responses (*System 1*). Mark these sections with [sys1] and [end sys1].
   - Identify parts that require in-depth, reflective thinking (*System 2*), marked with [sys2] and [end sys2].

2. *Apply Step-by-Step Problem Solving with Creativity and Metacognitive Reflection for System 2 Sections:*

   *2.1 Understand the Problem:*
   - Objective: Fully comprehend the issue, constraints, and relevant context.
   - Reflection: "What do I understand about this issue? What might I be overlooking?"
   - Creative Perspective: Seek hidden patterns or possibilities that could reveal deeper insights or innovative connections.

   *2.2 Analyze the Information:*
   - Objective: Break down the problem logically.
   - Reflection: "Am I considering all factors? Are there any assumptions that need challenging?"
   - Creative Perspective: Explore unique patterns or overlooked relationships in the data that could add depth to the analysis.

   *2.3 Generate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Propose at least 10 hypotheses, each with a Confidence Score (0.0 to 1.0) and Creative Score (0.0 to 1.0), reflecting originality, surprise, and utility.
   - Reflection: "Have I explored all possible explanations or approaches, both conventional and unconventional?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider novel angles that might provide unexpected insights.

   *2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:*
   - Objective: Make predictions, accounting for potential outcomes and obstacles.
   - Reflection: "What challenges might I face? Is my plan flexible for different scenarios?"
   - Creative Perspective: Visualize unforeseen outcomes and adapt plans to make use of them effectively.

   *2.5 Evaluate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Assess hypotheses based on feasibility, risk, and potential impact.
   - Evaluation: Refine Confidence and Creative Scores as needed.
   - Reflection: "Am I unbiased in my assessment? Which options fit best with the overall objectives?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify hidden opportunities or overlooked details in each hypothesis.

   *2.6 Select the Best Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Choose the most promising, strategic hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Why does this hypothesis stand out? How does it uniquely address the issue?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider any underutilized potential in the selected approach.

   *2.7 Implement the Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Outline actionable steps for testing the hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Is this plan practical? What resources or preparation are required?"
   - Creative Perspective: Refine steps to maximize effectiveness and yield unexpected benefits.

   *2.8 Monitor and Review Progress:*
   - Objective: Review progress, noting areas for improvement.
   - Reflection: "What’s working well? What could be improved?"
   - Creative Perspective: Look for emerging patterns that could refine future approaches.

   *2.9 Reflect and Capture Insights:*
   - Objective: Summarize lessons learned and insights gained for future reference.
   - Reflection: "What new understanding has emerged from this process?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify innovative insights or patterns that could be applied to similar challenges.

3. *Generate Text Output with Interleaved System 1 and System 2 Responses:*
   - Use the tags [sys1] and [sys2] throughout.
   - Aim for a lengthier, detailed response. Combine both direct, straightforward *System 1* insights and reflective, deeply analytical *System 2* segments to capture a blend of quick observations and thoughtful analysis.

---

### *Example Input Text:*

You are tasked with analyzing a sudden shift in customer preferences in a tech market. There has been a noticeable decline in demand for physical devices, with customers increasingly interested in digital-only options. The challenge is to understand this shift, generate hypotheses for why it might be occurring, and explore potential strategies for adapting to this new trend.

---

### *Processed Output with System 1 and System 2 Thinking:*

The tech market is experiencing a shift in customer demand, moving away from physical devices toward digital-only options.

[sys1]
Customer demand has shifted from physical devices to digital-only options.
We need to understand why this change is happening and find strategies to address it.
Key factors may include cost, convenience, and technological trends.
[end sys1]

[sys2]
**2.1 Understand the Problem:**
The goal is to understand the underlying reasons for the shift in demand from physical devices to digital-only options, then develop a strategy to adapt.

*Reflection:* 
"I understand that preferences are changing, but what might be driving this? Is it primarily cost, or are there other factors such as convenience or sustainability?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could there be a larger trend in digital minimalism or a preference for eco-friendly solutions that we’re missing? What unseen motivations might explain this shift?"

**2.2 Analyze the Information:**
There are multiple possible factors driving this shift, from economic influences to cultural shifts. It’s essential to isolate each factor and understand its impact.

*Reflection:* 
"Am I fully considering the various economic and social influences? Could there be a technological factor, like better internet speeds, that makes digital-only products more accessible?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Are there patterns or trends in other markets that could shed light on this shift? Could this be part of a larger trend toward virtual experiences?"

**2.3 Generate Hypotheses:**
1. Customers prefer digital options due to lower costs. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.4)
2. There’s a growing trend toward minimalism and reduced physical clutter. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.7)
3. Digital products offer greater flexibility and ease of use. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
4. Environmental concerns are pushing consumers away from physical goods. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.8)
5. Advances in tech make digital-only options more functional. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.5)
6. Pandemic-era remote work increased demand for digital solutions. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.6)
7. Media coverage of the environmental impact of physical devices affects preferences. (Confidence: 0.5, Creative: 0.7)
8. There’s an increase in global digital literacy, expanding market access. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
9. Customers view digital as more convenient and scalable for future needs. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.5)
10. Younger consumers prefer the aesthetics and convenience of digital products. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)

*Reflection:* 
"Have I considered all possible influences? Are there any surprising factors that could explain this shift?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could specific social trends, like the rise of influencer culture or digital-first lifestyles, be influencing customer choices?"

**2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:**
*Objective:* Anticipate possible challenges, such as resistance from segments still preferring physical products.

*Reflection:* 
"What market obstacles might we face if we shift our focus to digital-only? Are there sub-segments that still prioritize physical products?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could expanding digital options help us reach a more global audience? Are there emerging trends that we could leverage in our strategy?"

[end sys2]

[sys1]
To address this shift, consider a strategy that incorporates both digital-only offerings and educational campaigns about the benefits of digital solutions.
Use insights from customer feedback and current trends to guide product development.
Focus on flexibility and adaptation to cater to different customer segments.
[end sys1]


Q:

pg_query_params fails with too many arguments

I'm not sure why this is failing, I have two examples, they are the same function, but one works and the other doesn't work. I really want the one that doesn't work to work, because it will allow me to put a lot of my potentially repetitive code into a single function.
This calls either setItemWorks or setItemDoesNotWork.
public function setitemName($itemId, $name){
    /* Add the name of the item to the database */

    $fieldName = 'name';
    $tableName = "items";
    $idName = "id";

    $result = $this->setItemWorks($itemId, $name);
    // Use comments to enable below function and disable function call above.
    //$result = $this->setItemDoesNotWork($tableName, $idName, $fieldName, $itemId, $name);

}

setItemDoesNotWork:
private function setItemDoesNotWork($table, $id, $field, $itemId, $fieldValue){

    $_1 = $itemId;
    $_2 = $fieldValue;
    $_3 = $field;
    $_4 = $table;
    $_5 = $id;

    $parameters = array($_1, $_2, $_3, $_4, $_5);

    // If the ID already exists, then update the name!
    $sql = 'update $4 set $3 = $2 where $5 = $1;';
    pg_query_params($this->database, $sql, $parameters);

    // Add ID and Name into table.
    $sql = 'insert into $4($5, $3) select $1, $2 where not exists(select 1 from $4 where $5=$1)';
    $result = pg_query_params($this->database, $sql, $parameters);

    return $result;
}

setItemWorks:
private function setItemWorks($table, $id, $field, $itemId, $fieldValue){

    $_1 = $itemId;
    $_2 = $fieldValue;

    $parameters = array($_1, $_2);

    // If the ID already exists, then update the name!
    $sql = 'update items set $name = $2 where id = $1;';
    pg_query_params($this->database, $sql, $parameters);

    // Add ID and Name into table.
    $sql = 'insert into items(id, name) select $1, $2 where not exists(select 1 from items where id=$1)';
    $result = pg_query_params($this->database, $sql, $parameters);

    return $result;
}

It seems that when I try putting 5 variables into the pg_query_params it doesn't work.
This is the error I am getting:
Error:
[20-Mar-2015 00:17:19 UTC] PHP Warning:  pg_query_params(): Query failed: ERROR:  syntax error at or near "$4"
LINE 1: update $4 set $3 = $2 where $5 = $1;
               ^ in /home/ubuntu/workspace/lib/ItemDatabase.php on line 139

Edit: The current answer I have put down is unsafe, any ideas how to make this safe whilst not being able to use pg_query_params?

A:

You are opening two cans of worms at once:

Dynamic SQL while avoiding SQL injection
UPSERT while solving race conditions with concurrent transactions

Both are tricky and the best solution depends on the details of your use case.
PL/pgSQL function
I suggest a server-side plpgsql function that encapsulates a clean solution for both problems:

SQL injection is impossible.
Concurrency issues are resolved.

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION f_dynamic_upsert
         (_tbl text, _id text, _fld text, _item_id int, _field_val text)
  RETURNS void AS
$func$
DECLARE
   _found int;
BEGIN
LOOP
   EXECUTE format('UPDATE %I SET %I = $1 WHERE %I = $2', _tbl, _fld, _id)
   USING   _field_val, _item_id;

   GET DIAGNOSTICS _found = ROW_COUNT;
   IF _found > 0 THEN RETURN; END IF;

   BEGIN
      EXECUTE format('INSERT INTO %I(%I, %I) SELECT $1, $2', _tbl, _fld, _id)
      USING   _field_val, _item_id;
      RETURN;
   EXCEPTION WHEN unique_violation THEN
      -- rarely happens, keep trying
   END;
END LOOP;
END
$func$  LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Call:
SELECT f_dynamic_upsert('foo', 'foo_id', 'foo_val', 3, 'new foo');

Or with named parameter syntax:
SELECT f_dynamic_upsert(_tbl := 'foo'
                      , _id := 'foo_id'
                      , _fld := 'foo_val'
                      , _item_id := 3
                      , _field_val :='new foo');

SQL Fiddle demonstrating it works.
More about dynamic SQL and SQL injection:

Table name as a PostgreSQL function parameter
Define table and column names as arguments in a plpgsql function?
INSERT with dynamic table name in trigger function

Work for the Postgres UPSERT implementation is ongoing: INSERT .. ON CONFLICT UPDATE. With any luck, this will be in then next release 9.5. Details in the Postgres Wiki.
More about UPSERT:

Insert, on duplicate update in PostgreSQL?
How to UPSERT (MERGE, INSERT ... ON DUPLICATE UPDATE) in PostgreSQL?
Issue with composite type in an UPSERT function

PHP function
Could look something like this:
private function setItem($table, $id, $field, $itemId, $fieldValue) {
   $parameters = array($table, $id, $field, $itemId, $fieldValue)
   $sql = 'SELECT f_dynamic_upsert($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)';

   $result = pg_query_params($this->database, $sql, $parameters);
   return $result;
}