Showing papers on "User modeling published in 1983"

On the implications of user variability in open systems An overview of the little we know and of the lot we have to find out

Abstract: As the use of computers increases, the cost of educating computer users rises. Therefore the need for extensive education of users should be avoided as much as possible. Instead computer systems should be adapted to the requirements and characteristics of computer users. Hereby the need to identify user characteristics arises. The less computer educated the users, the more their requirements of the systems will differ. Where user characteristics are difficult to change, it will be worthwhile to attend to user differences in the design of systems. The implications of user differences may vary depending upon the type of task to be performed. The present paper presents an analysis of different user characteristics and their possible interactions with different task requirements. Hereby some recommendations regarding the need to educate users or adapt systems to the user were derived.

A programming language framework for designing user interfaces

Abstract: Programming Language researchers increasingly recognize that a high proportion of application development costs involve the interface with users of the application, including various dialogues, input formats, error checking, help and explanation messages, and the like. They also increasingly recognize that maintenance costs tend to overshadow development costs. These two factors even multiply their adverse effects: as the user needs evolve, it is the interface with a system which generally requires the most maintenance. The user relationship is even said to account for about 60 percent of the maintenance problem [Lientz and Swanson 81]. Surprisingly, few programming language constructs are designed to address the area of user interface design. On the contrary, traditional programming language constructs are strongly oriented towards improving programmers' effectiveness in developing the algorithmic and data manipulation aspects of an application. A programmer is basically left to reinvent each time the required procedures to deal with user commands and inputs.

A proposal for user centered system documentation

Abstract: This paper outlines a set of proposals for the development of system documentation based on an analysis of user needs. It is suggested that existing documentation is not sensitive enough to the variety of levels of user expertise, nor to the variety of contexts in which on-line help is required. We outline three specific proposals for fulfilling these needs: a quick reference facility, a command-line database, and a facility for full explanation and instruction, and suggest a number of ways in which users might access these facilities. Finally, we suggest a way of combining these facilities into an integrated structured manual, offering more effective user support than is currently provided.

Natural language access to data bases: interpreting update requests

Abstract: For natural language data base systems to operate effectively in practical domains, they must have the capabilities required by real applications. One such capability is understanding and performing update requests. The processing of natural language updates raises problems not encountered in the processing of queries. These difficulties stem from the fact that the user will naturally phrase requests with respect to his conception of the domain, which may be a considerable simplification of the actual underlying data base structure. Updates that are meaningful and unambiguous from the user's standpoint may not translate into reasonable changes to the underlying data base. Update requests may be impossible (cannot be performed in any way), ambiguous (can be performed in several ways), or pathological (can be performed only in ways that cause undesirable side effects).Drawing on work in linguistics and philosophy of language, we have developed a domain-transparent approach to identifying and performing "reasonable" changes in response to a user's update request, using only knowledge sources typically present in existing data base systems. A simple notion of "user model" and explanation with respect to the user's state of knowledge are central to the design. This paper describes a prototype system PIQUE (Program for Interpretation of Query/Update in English), which implements this approach.

User models to personalize an intelligent agent

Abstract: This study investigates requirements for a user modeling scheme called MAP that is intended to personalize a class of computer programs referred to as intelligent agents. The context of the work reported is that of an intelligent agent to assist users to interact with operating systems. Giving an intelligent agent access to a user model that represents aspects of an individual's mental model of an operating system enables the agent to reduce the communication demands on the user and to adapt the operating system, where appropriate, to behave according to the user's expectations. The work proceeds from a proposed conceptual framework for user models, to specification of requirements for the modeling scheme based on an analysis of operating system use, through prototyping a user modeling program that is an instantiation of the design requirements, and testing the prototype by subjecting it to actual use. The MAP program provides an environment where the user can make explicit aspects of her mental model for operating systems. This includes the creation of mental objects and describing the behavior of these objects. Essential to the MAP approach is to increase the bandwidth of information entering user mode. This approach is to automate the representations of an individual's mental models in a form that is comprehensible to the individual herself, scientists, educators, and intelligent agents. The utility of making individual's user models available to an intelligent agent is that this enables the agent to relate aspects of a user's mental model, as represented by the user model, to the virtual machine. The primary strength of the MAP approach, although not fully automated, is that it broadens the communication channel to the user model. The evidence from this study showed that operating system users were able to capture their standard operating procedures by simple MAP procedures.

User adaptation in interactive information retrieval

Abstract: A study was conducted of users of an interactive database search system in order to obsenre and measure how they adapted to the system, which was new to them. Subjects were selected from three categories of prior computer experience and each was assigned to use one of three search languages which varied in complexity or logical power. All searched the same database of newspaper clippings. User performance appears to be a function of how well suited the language is to the user and the problem being addressed, rather than either language complexity or user experience, alone. A major conclusion is that languages should be designed to suit recognizable classes of users, rather than all users as a whole.

SIMIS II - an environment for material flow systems simulation

Abstract: A user-oriented model for simulation of automatic transportation systems is described. Special emphasis is laid on the description of the user model world and the problems in its design.

Knowledgeable contexts for user interaction

Abstract: ASK, A Simple Knowledgeable System, is a total system for the structuring, manipulation, and communication of information. The ASK user interface is a simple dialect of natural English. The system includes extensive means by which a user group and application programmer can build a knowledgeable context for user interaction. The users themselves can build, modify, and extend their knowledge base. They can add complex definitions that embody knowledge of their domain. They can ground a new tentative knowledge base on more stable ones, modifying and extending their new one without affecting the old.A truly knowledgeable system must also know how to perform complex tasks in response to terse user inputs, taking over complicated but repetitive tasks on simple cues. The ASK system includes three system-guided dialogues that can be used to build such knowledgeability into a user's context.

Computing apparatus and method for operating the same

Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating a computing system to enable multiple users executing in various address spaces and according to various priorities, key states, and allocation levels to share the computing and data resources of the system. The computing system includes at least one subsystem (70) having a pool of available functional modules for supporting a plurality of user requests (81, 82, 85) under various access protocols (65-67) and allocation levels. Execution means are provided for assuring that user requests valid only under some protocols and allocation levels are not executed on behalf of users authorized only for different protocols, such execution means including means for generating an allocation descriptor describing a user's functional capability; means responsive to a request from a user which does not imply a change in functional capability for allocating a functional module to the user according to the user's currently allocated functional capability; and means responsive to a request from a user which implies a change in the user's functional capability for allocating a functional module to the user according to a new functional capability only if allower by the user's current functional capability.

Methods for Improving the User-Computer Interface

Abstract: : Numerous examples have been cited of deficiencies in the user- computer interface on Navy computers, both ashore and aboard ship. The computer system designer often overlooks the user's perspective in his desire to provide the user with a system that is a faster and more powerful tool. In this document requirements of the personal computer user are identified and contrasted with computer designer perspectives towards the user. The user's psychological needs are described so that the design of the user-computer interface may be designed to accommodate them. Development of the user-computer interface is discussed in terms of the user's physical, perceptual, and conceptual contacts with the system. The ideals of system design--transparency and visibility to the user-- are described. Further research is suggested that will explore the characteristics of efficacious menu selection, develop a theory of the operator, determine the best locus of control for dialogue features, provide guidelines for improving system documentation, and improve user work station habitability.

Organizing user information: A way to hold fewer hands

Abstract: In the past few years, we have seen a rapid increase in the number of new users in the academic computing environment, and this increase is likely to continue. Several factors are involved in bringing this about: microcomputers are more accessible and inexpensive; software is easier to use; high-quality printing devices and text-processing packages make the computer a more attractive tool for preparing documents; and high-level, specialized languages make it a more practical teaching aid. In general, people are learning that the computer can be a useful tool, in many cases enabling them to perform tasks which they were not able to perform, at least not easily, before. Consequently, many of the people we deal with in the user services context are “new users” in the sense that they have had very little computing experience before coming to us.In many ways we have not been adequately prepared to deal with this changing user community. Most of our traditional documentation, workshops and shortcourses assume a higher level of technical training than our new users possess. We in user services have the information needed by this new clientele; but it has not been in a form which is easily accessible to them. As a result, people either turn away or, in order to satisfy their own information needs, turn to the only source available to them - the user services consultant. Often, the easiest and most convenient way for new users to obtain information is simply to call or visit a consultant. Consequently, an increasing proportion of consultants' time is spent “holding hands” -that is, teaching in-office shortcourses on a one-on-one basis, giving individual “how to” demonstrations on a variety of topics, and answering long lists of questions on beginning level topics.Of course, as user services consultants, it is our job to assist people in the use of our computer system and to teach new users how to use that system. The problem we face is that an increasing proportion of consulting time is spent in individual tutoring sessions at an elementary level and, therefore, less time is allocated to other important functions such as shortcourse and workshop development and the development of new documentation -activities which, in the long term, would benefit the new user in a more effective and efficient manner. We believe that one solution to this problem lies in organizing user information in a way which makes it more accessible and more suitable for users at a given level of experience.In this paper, we describe a model for organizing and developing documentation and instruction which is based upon the varying skill levels of our users. This model provides a framework for defining user needs at each skill level, for identifying those areas in which documentation or instruction is lacking, and for developing new material to meet those needs.

Development of the user-computer interface

Abstract: Requirements of the personal computer user are identified and contrasted with computer designer perspectives towards the user. The user's psychological needs are described so that the design of the user-computer interface may be designed to accommodate them. Development of the user-computer interface is discussed in terms of the user's physical, perceptual and conceptual contact with the system. The ideals of system transparency and visibility to the user are described resulting in a set of dialogue principles. Further research is suggested which will explore the characteristics of efficacious menu selection, develop a theory of the operator, determine the best locus of control for dialogue features. provide guidelines for improving system documentation and improve user work station habitability.

A Semantic Design Method

Abstract: A system design method where the computer system is adapted to user semantics is described. In the method, user semantics are defined as abstract objects using special languages. Both user data semantics and user operations are defined. A translator converts the abstract definitions into internal machine storage representation and machine instructions. Users can then include the defined operations in user programs. Execution of the user operations transforms the internal state consistently with the definition of the operations.

Modeling the behavior of the computer-assisted instruction user

Abstract: The field of computer-assisted instruction CAI contains abundant studies on effectiveness of particular programs or systems. However, the nature of the field is such that the computer is the focus of research, not the users. Few research studies have focused on the behavior of the individual CAI user. Morgan (1981) stated that descriptive studies are needed to clarify what the important phenomena of user behavior are. The need for such studies is particularly acute in computer-assisted instruction. Building a behavioral model would enable us to understand problem-solving strategies and rules applied by the user during a CAI experience. Also, courseware developers could use this information to design tutoring systems that are more responsive to individual differences than our present CAI is. This paper proposes a naturalistic model for evaluating both affective and cognitive characteristics of the CAI user. It begins with a discussion of features of user behavior, followed by a description of evaluation methodology that can lead to modeling user behavior. The paper concludes with a discussion of how implementation of this model can contribute to the fields of CAI and cognitive psychology.

Document Design for An Interactive System

Abstract: The user documentation supplied with interactive software is often poorly designed, due to inadequate preparation and lack of understanding of the user needs. More emphasis needs to be placed on user documentation, a vital part of the user-system interface throughout the period of system use. This report describes the document production process for an interactive system in which design decisions were based upon user input and software structure. The UNIXTm system and associated formatting software were used to develop modular documents that are easy to maintain and update. User response to the documentation was favorable.

Interfacing to the Programmer's Apprentice

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss the design of a user interface to the KnowledgeBased Editor (KBE), a prototype implementation of the Programmer's Apprentice. Although internally quite sophisticated, the KBE hides most of its internal mechanisms from the user, presenting a simplified model of its behavior which is flexible and easy to use. Examples are presented to illustrate the decisions which have led from high-level design principles such as "integration with existing tools" and "simplicity of user model" to a working implementation which is true to those principles.