Showing papers on "User modeling published in 1990"

Through the Interface: A Human Activity Approach To User Interface Design

Abstract: This dissertation discusses human-computer interaction, and the role of user interfaces in use and design from the point-of-view of human activity theory. Human-computer interaction conducted in purposeful human work is in focus. The main idea is that a computer application, from the user's perspective, is not something that the user operates on but something that the user operates through on other objects or subjects. The contents of the report is the following: Danish Summary; Introduction; Human Activity and Human-Computer Interaction; User Interface Design -- the Empirical Cases; User Interfaces; Methods for User Interface Design; User Interface Design -- Advice to the Designer.

Adaptive user interfaces

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for creating and displaying adaptive user interfaces are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a user interface by an application development environment, the application development environment providing the ability to allow authoring of a user interface that adapts to a screen size with any first abstracted size class value and any second abstracted size class value. The method then includes creating an application including the user interface wherein the application is configured to: determine a screen size of a device, the screen size including a first abstracted size class value and a second abstracted size class value; adapt the user interface according to the screen size including the first abstracted size class value and the second abstracted size class value; and display the adapted user interface on the device.

Learning from user experience with groupware

Abstract: Observers have identified a potential for major improvements in organizational productivity made possible through the use of personal computers serving as a means to link people into task-oriented teams. Our study offers an examination of how people are using personal computers for such electronic exchanges via networking. We interviewed 223 people who were using several “groupware” systems in a sample of 25 enterprises to see how they employ these software tools to support their group work. An explanation of our research design and a more complete discussion of the results can be found in Bullen and Bennett [BulNO].

Information need and use studies

Abstract: Elizabeth T. Hewins concentrates on the need and use studies of the literature in: medical informatics, business, public administration and marketing research, and library and information science. She looks at information-provision mechanisms, user modeling, information value, cognitive processes and interface designs as they relate to use studies. She concludes that group needs and uses should be studied so that systems can be designed to serve the members of the group. She finds that new paradigms and approaches are user centered rather than system centered. Hewins suggests that research must become more interdisciplinary than in the past, that research on user behavior should drive research on systems and interfaces to a greater degree than inthe past, and that the two areas should ultimately be linked to user behavior

Method of presenting multimedia data in a desired form by comparing and replacing a user template model with analogous portions of a system

Abstract: Multimedia data in an object structure include entity objects and relation objects, wherein each entity object has data representing a media element as internal data, and each relation object represents a relation between the entity objects. A relation object is searched according to information specified by a search command, and a searched relation object and internal data of an entity object related thereto are displayed on the screen of a display unit as a set of display elements. To generate a digest of the multimedia data, a matching between a structure portion of a user model and a structure portion of a system model is examined. The user model is generated according to a request of the user and arranged in layers, while the system model has been previously generated. The multimedia data are arranged in layers according to the importance of respective data elements constituting the multimedia data. According to an examination result, a user model structure portion is selectively replaced by a system model structure portion, and the replaced user model is adjusted so as to display the same.

User modeling in Dialog systems: potentials and hazards

Abstract: In order to be capable of exhibiting a wide range of cooperative behavior, a computer-based dialog system must have available assumptions about the current user's goals, plans, background knowledge and (false) beliefs, i.e., maintain a so-called “user model”. Apart from cooperativity aspects, such a model is also necessary for intelligent coherent dialog behavior in general. This article surveys recent research on the problem of how such a model can be constructed, represented and used by a system during its interaction with the user. Possible applications, as well as potential problems concerning the advisability of application, are then discussed. Finally, a number of guidelines are presented which should be observed in future research to reduce the risk of a potential misuse of user modeling technology.

User modeling in expert man-machine interfaces: a case study in intelligent information retrieval

Abstract: The requirements of a user modeling component for an expert interface are analyzed, and the main points of a proposed approach to user modeling are stated. The authors focus on a knowledge-based system, called UM-tool, devoted to creating, maintaining, and using explicit user models within an expert interface. UM-tool supports a novel approach to user modeling, which is based both on the use of stereotypes and on a dynamic reclassification scheme. The architecture of the system is described, the organization and content of its knowledge bases are illustrated, and the modeling mechanisms utilized are presented in detail. An example of the use of UM-tool in the frame of the information-retrieval-natural-language-interface (IR-NLI II) expert interface devoted to supporting end users in accessing online information retrieval services is discussed, focusing on the specific role of the user modeling component. An evaluation of the proposed approach and a critical comparison with related work are presented. Future research directions are outlined. >

Integration of user profiles: models and experiments in information retrieval

Abstract: One difficult problem in information retrieval (IR) is the proper interpretation of user queries. It is extremely hard for users to express their information needs in a specific yet exhaustive way. In an effort to alleviate this problem, two theoretical models have been proposed to utilize user characteristics maintained in the form of a user profile. Although the idea of integrating user profiles into an IR system is intuitively appealing, and the models seem viable, no research to date has established a foundation for the roles of user profiles in such a system. Aiming at the investigation of the roles of user profiles, therefore, this study first identifies and extends various query/profile interaction models to provide a ground upon which the investigation can be undertaken. From a continuum of models characterized on the basis of interaction types, metrics, and parameters, nearly 400 models are chosen to investigate the “model space.” New measures are developed based on the notion of user satisfaction/frustration. In addition, three different criteria are used to guide users in making judgments on the quality of retrieved items. Analysis of the data obtained from the experiments shows that, for a wide variety of criteria and metrics, there are always some query/profile interaction models that outperform the query alone model. In addition, preferable characteristics for different criteria are identified in terms of interaction types, parameters, and metrics.

Modeling of user performance with computer access and augmentative communication systems for handicapped people

Abstract: The design of the user interface for an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or computer access system is a critical factor in determining a user's p0erformance with a system. A comprehensive, quantitative, and accurate model for alternative access systems is needed to optimize both developers' design decisions and clinicians' system recommendations. This paper presents an application of one possible model, called the GOMS (Goals, Operafors, Mefhods, Selecfion Rules) model (Card, Moran, & Newell, 1983). The model provides a comprehensive description of user behavior based on system-specific parameters as well as the cognitive, perceptual, and motor capabilities of the user. It can be used to predict both task execution and learning times, as well as points of excessive long or short term memory load. The GOMS model is applied here to three interfaces currently used in AAC and computer access systems in order describe and predict user performance, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The thre...

Using a knowledge analysis to predict conceptual errors in text-editor usage

Abstract: The knowledge analysis of a device and a task, when written in an external Instruction Language and translated into rules for a programmable cognitive architecture, enables a designer to predict conceptual errors in device usage. This kind of prediction lies outside the scope of GOMS-based models. The cognitive architecture, which is referred to as a “Programmable User Model” (PUM), incorporates a limited problem-solving capability based upon means-ends analysis and multiple problem spaces. The example presented, concerning a simple text editor, illustrates the application of a PUM and demonstrates that a correct description of local knowledge does not necessarily lead to correct behaviour. This can serve to alert the designer to difficulties with the usability of a proposed interface.

Visual Interaction with Electronic Art Gallery

Abstract: This paper describes the ideas of visual interaction and their implementations on an image database system. The visual interaction includes a query by visual example (QVE) and a query by subjective descriptions (QBD). The former provides a sketch retrieval function and the latter provides a sense retrieval function. This paper shows the detail algorithms of these functions developed on our experimental database system ART MUSEUM. These functions use a pictorial index created by image analysis and a personal index automatically learned as the user model. They formed visual interaction in a truly user-friendly manner. This paper also summarizes the requirements to a multimedia data model from a cognitive aspect.

Logical task modelling for man-machine dialogue

Abstract: To design a task-independent dialogue system, we present a task-oriented dialogue analysis in terms of finding the referents of definite descriptions and we show how this analysis leads to a goal-oriented inferential representation of the task. This representation provides a logical generic model of the task, which is compatible with a belief system. Then, we show how this task model, jointly used with the domain-specific user model for which we propose a formalization, enables a dialogue system to plan request negotiation dialogues.

Generating user interfaces: principles and use of it style rules

Abstract: As application developers today we all face a problem of great complexity. Because of the diversity of our users, and the variety of their equipment, applications must run in many different configurations. They must support displays of varying size, resolution, and color depth. Different types of input devices are required, from keyboards to touch screens. Applications must run in different countries, being able to reformat messages in varying lengths in each language. Messages should be available in large font sizes for vision impaired users. Interface style should be consistent with other applications running on similar hardware. Style should at the same time conform to guidelines being developed by many organizations for presentation and interaction behaviors.

User modelling in computer-based critics

Abstract: A user modelling approach for computer-based critics is described. The critiquing model approach to instantiating the cooperative problem-solving paradigm is considered. The theoretical background for cooperative problem-solving and the motivation for developing a user modelling approach in this domain are based on a need to provide systems that operate independently of explicit user direction. How to represent, acquire, and maintain consistency of the user model in a critiquing system for LISP programming called LISP-Critic is the fundamental issue addressed. A theoretical model of user domain knowledge, an analysis of the application domain, LISP, and research on the generation of explanations prescribe the contents of the user model. LISP-Critic has been extended to include a user modeling component which includes a database of information about the user and a modelling agent. The modelling agent encapsulates the access and update methods for th user model. >

Architecture of a Multimodal Dialogue Interface for Knowledge-Based Systems

Abstract: This paper describes the architecture and the first implementation results of a multimodal dialogue interface for knowledge based systems developed in the context of Esprit II project MMI2 The paper reviews the basic principles of the architecture of the system and the approach taken by the project with respect to user modeling issues, then describes individually each communication mode

Intelligent database retrieval by visual reasoning

Abstract: The authors introduce the concept of personalized user profile for very large databases, as well as the VisualNet model as a representation for such a user profile. A user profile is a small and dynamic structure which contains the user's knowledge of the database, serves as a starting point for the user's access to the database, and supports intelligent database accesses. The basic idea is that a user usually accesses only a very small and stable region of a very large database, and therefore, the size of the user profile is much smaller than the whole database view. It is hoped that most of the user's database search can be conducted in the user profile. Techniques for automatic construction and maintenance of user profiles are discussed. A set of visual reasoning algorithms is presented to support intelligent and interactive user's queries to the database, as well as to coordinate the search between the user profile and the global database. >

User models and user interfaces: a case for domain models, task models, and tailorability

Abstract: My thesis is that the case for user models has little empirical support, necessarily must confront currently intractable problems, and is motivated by aspects of a metaphor that does not provide, at least presently, an effective base for the design of user interfaces. More positively, I argue that some of what is sought in the name of user modeling can be accomplished by basing interface design on models of application domains, user tasks, and by providing tailorable systems. I am led to this position primarily from experiences with the design of ICAI systems and construction of multimodal interfaces to complex systems. In the limited space of these proceedings I am confined to sketching a portion of my case against user modeling. I focus on the metaphor that I think motivates most user modeling efforts and some of its pernicious consequences. The design of user interfaces is shaped explicitly and implicitly by metaphors. My colleagues and I [Hutchins, Hollan, & Norman, 19851 have argued that there are two fundamentally different metaphors underlying interface design. We labeled them the Conversation Metaphor and the Model World Metaphor. The conversation metaphor derives its metaphorical significance from our knowledge about language. Users think of the interface as an intermediary to a world that is not explicitly represented and interact by providing the intermediary with linguistic descriptions of actions to be accomplished. The model world metaphor derives its significance from our knowledge about the world. The world is explicitly depicted, the represented objects behave as if they were the things they refer to, and users have no experience of communicating with an intermediary. Instead of providing descriptions of action, the user does them. Metaphors provide a language within the design community that designers use to communicate their designs to each other. They shape the whole design process. Unfortunately, they can lead to uncritical acceptance of presuppositions. This is particularly likely when the metaphor involves aspects of cognition with which we are facile. Much of the motivation for user models comes from adopting a human to human conversation metaphor. But computers are not humans. I contend that an uncritical adoption of the human to human communications metaphor has brought with it a set of unquestioned presuppositions that fuel the many unsuccessful attempts at user modeling and deflect effort away from more productive aspects of the conversation metaphor. Because of our familiarity with human to human communication it is easy to view human computer interfaces via the same metaphor. I think this hides an important set of presuppositions and very difficult problems that must be addressed. A number of empirical studies of advising [Hill, 19881 support these conclusions. They demonstrate that the user models people use are often flawed and even where successful are of an improvised nature that requires a dialectic with an apparently unbounded array of common sense knowledge. These studies lead one to conclude that user modeling in even simple domains must confront the most intractable AI questions. User modeling efforts not only need to model users when they perform correctly but must contend with the virtually infinite ways users might get things wrong. In addition, they are also required to deal with all of the problems associated with the consequences of getting the model of the user wrong, or wrong in a particular context, as well as with the complex issues of agency that arise as soon as the system starts to dynamically modify its behavior as a function of its model of the user. Perhaps more insidiously the attempts at user modeling involve a dual of a questionable approach to understanding cognition. Today many are questioning the wisdom of positing models in our heads of everything with which we interact and beginning to recognizing the fact that virtually every thinking task is accomplished via interactions with others and with the artifacts of our culture. The developing zeitgeist is that much is represented not in our heads but in the world. This includes other individuals, the social context of activities, the institutions within which activities are embedded, and the artifacts we employ in thinking and acting.

User Modelling in Help Systems

Abstract: The User Modelling component of a shell for building Intelligent Help Systems (IHS) is described. An IHS helps users of interactive computer programs in accomplishing their tasks and within that context understanding of the specific application. Like other Intelligent Tutoring Systems, IHSs need to model the knowledge of the users concerning the target domain, i.c. a specific application. This User Model in EUROHELP as a data structure is nothing special: an overlay of the Domain Representation, augmented with a bug library. The focus of the paper is on the maintenance of the model by the User Modeller, which performs three functions: (1) Modelling learning, (2) modelling forgetting, and (3) checking the User Model. The first two functions are described, based on cognitive theories of human learning and memory. The last function is necessary because of the uncertain and yet experimental results of the first two models.

User modeling and user interfaces

Abstract: In the past several years, it has become increasingly apparent that there is strong disagreement between researchers within and outside of AI on how to build systems for man-machine communication. Within AI, and specifically within natural language, researchers have noted that human speakers and hearers draw on their knowledge about each other when communicating. This knowledge is used both in understanding, and responding to, a speaker’s utterances. User models are a means for representing various types of information about speakers and hearers so that systems are able to reason about their users when interpreting input and producing responses. While there is disagreement in the AI community about the form of user model that should be used, there is an implicit assumption that some form of knowledge about users is essential for successful man-machine communication. In contrast, in the user interface and information retrieval community there has been a reaction against user models. Researchers in this community have argued that with a properly designed interface, users are able to get the information that they need. Modelling a user requires access to and representation of all sorts of ill-defined aspects of human cognition (e.g., how do we know when a user believes that a specific fact is true?). Rather than being so presumptuous as to assume that we can carry out such a task, why not rely on the fact that users, as humans, are smart enough to be able to use interfaces as intended to satisfy their needs? The purpose of the panel is to bring together these disparate opinions in an open forum. Are we really as far apart as we seem ? Are there opinions in the opposing viewpoints that ought be adopted by the other group?

An approach to dialog management for presentation and manipulation of composite models in decision support systems

Abstract: This paper discusses an object-oriented approach to user interface design that facilitates the exploration of components of a composite-model based DSS. A semantic network of objects is used as the framework to organize the user interface representation. The network is graphically represented and can be directly manipulated by the user. It serves as a framework to assist the user in understanding the conceptual model underlying the DSS. As a result, the network representation should support both fast user learning of the system and easy user control of actions when using the DSS.

Variations in user satisfaction with MIS

Abstract: The results of a field study of management information systems (MIS) in different organizations in Australia which investigates the relationship between type of user, user involvement and user information satisfaction are reported. The results show that user MIS success (UIS) varies between users of the same MIS based on their organizational function and that user involvement in the systems development life cycle has a significant positive effect on UIS. The significance of the effect of user involvement varies for users based on their organizational function. Technical users are less satisfied with MIS than administrative users. Also, the relationship between user involvement/user control of the systems development process and UIS is significantly different for administrative and technical users. >

User Modeling and Register Theory: A Congruence of Concerns

Abstract: : Sophisticated computer systems using natural language to interact with people are now becoming widespread. These systems need to communicate with an increasingly varied user community, across an ever more extensive range of situations. Just as for human-human interaction, no single style of generated text is adequate across all user types and all situations. Generation systems can only be effective if they appropriately 'taylor' their phrasing, text content, and organization according to the situation and to the abilities and requirements of the intended readers. This paper presents new work in 'tailoring' that addresses the phrasing problem: how to best express the propositional content that has been chosen by a text planner, given a user and situation. Importantly, this paper shows how relevant linguistic studies can be bought to bear the problem of user modeling and tailoring. In particular, we would like to show that the concerns of register theory are very close to some of the concerns of user modeling, and that aspects of the theory can guide us in studies in user modeling. Based on this specific linguistic theory, we propose a methodology to systematically study the problem of tailoring phrasing. Tailoring, User modeling, Register theory, Generation systems.

Two approaches to semantic interfaces in text generation

Abstract: This paper is a contribution towards the exploration of semantic interfaces in text generation systems. It suggests a general interpretation of semantics for the purpose of text generation as an interlevel between lexicogrammar (the resources of grammar and vocabulary) and higher levels of organization (knowledge base, user model, text planning, and so on). Two approaches to the design of this interlevel that have been implemented in generation systems are then presented -- chooser & inquiry semantics and situation-specific semantic systems. They are compared and contrasted to bring out their relative merits.

Exploratory behaviors and the design of computer instruction manuals in hypertext

Abstract: This study explores the problem of designing an environment for the learning of procedures using an hypertext environment. It presents an HYPERCARD interface for the learning of database procedures for the EXCEL spreadsheet. Direct manipulation interfaces (Shneiderman, 1982) encourage exploration and learning, but are not very effective for complex and abstract applications, which require planning and the coordination of many operations. For these interfaces, written documentation and help features are generally too fragmented and static. As for rigid tutorials they prove ineffective for the learning of complex procedures, as they leave no room for inferences. We will discuss the design of a learning environment to encourage and support exploration in this context. The system is based on a protocol analysis of users reading the written documentation and trying the system. Semantic, syntactic and process analyses have shown how users build their representations of the procedures to be learned (lexical ambiguities, inversion of sequences, search for illustrations, etc.). Based on this user model and drawing from studies on learning, a new environment was developed in Hypercard which put forward an interactional structure for the learning of direct manipulation procedures. Inspired both by the G.O.M.S. model (Card, Newell and Moran, 1983) and by "planning interfaces" (Miller, 1982), it first presents the hierarchy of goals, then outlines methods with accessible definitions, examples, exercises and various tests. Only there after these are alternative methods and selection rules explained. As in "planning interfaces", the system offers explanation both at the general level of goals and methods and at the concrete level of their integration into concrete examples. The user is free to explore this "training wheel" environment, where aspects of the Excel environment are simulated and gradually made accessible, with appropriate guidance and feedback.

Mode: an object-oriented user interface development environment based on the concept of mode

Abstract: : This thesis explores a particular concept of mode that can provide a unified conceptual framework for user interfaces and can lead to an effective implementation environment for developing a rich variety of user interfaces. This research has addressed several important limitations faced by most user interface management systems (UIMSs). These include: (1) Lack of generality; (2) Little support for creating and managing the connections between user interfaces and their underlying applications; and (3) Lack of support beyond the coding phase.

Neural networks in human-computer interaction: a view of user modelling

Abstract: Neural networks have proved valuable in solving pattern recognition and classification problems. Primarily they have been successfully applied to the fields of image and speech recognition, and much research is continuing in these areas. However in the field of human-computer interaction, pattern recognition is also a common requirement. The authors identify two related applications of neural techniques to recognizing patterns in user behaviour. The first is dynamic user modelling, which may be used in the development of adaptive interfaces, or intelligent help and tutoring systems, to provide the system with a model of the particular user. The second can be viewed as a form of static user modelling: analysing behavioural traces or protocol analysis.