Showing papers on "User modeling published in 1991"

Network management agent with user created objects providing additional functionality

Abstract: A computer network management software agent which includes the ability for users to add new user defined management objects. A user editable text file defines object identifications, object types, and the path and name of associated executable software. A user can then invoke user defined executable software at a managed node by sending a network command and a user defined associated object identifier to the agent in the managed node. Data can be sent between a user and user defined executable software. A timeout feature generates an error if commands are not completed within a user defined time.

Adaptive direct manipulation

Abstract: A description is presented of ADM (adaptive direct manipulation), a prototype graphical user interface (GUI) system which is adaptive to user performance. ADM allows users to perform a set of tasks via direct manipulation of graphical buttons presented within the display space of a computer touch screen. The presentation and management of these buttons dynamically adapt to the button selection behavior of the current user. The goal of this work was to understand and develop a working software system which could correctly integrate the necessary knowledge to support a given set of operations and effectively adapt its GUI to the behavior and performance of a user. >

The respective roles of user participation and user involvement in information system implementation success

Abstract: Consistent with the conceptualizations of participation and involvement in psychology, organizational behavior, consumer behavior, and other disciplines, this paper redefines the participation construct to distinguish its. behavioral and psychological dimensions. "User participation" is defined as the observable behavior of information system users in the information system development process; "user involvement" as a need-based attitude orpsychological state of users with regard to that process and to the resultant information system; and "user engagement" as the set of user behaviors and attitudes toward information systems and their development. A field study was conducted in a $40 billion interstate bank during the installation and conversion of an information system. A questionnaire was developed, pre-tested, and validated for internal consistency, temporal stabfity, factorial validity, and multicollinearity. Path analysis was used for theory testing (i.e., model comparison). There was strong empirical evidence to support: (1) that user involvement is something distinct from, although associated wit4 user participation; (2) that this psychological state of user involvement may be more important than user participation in understanding information system success; (3) that the behavioral-attitudinal theory of information system success @e., that participation "causes" involvement which mediates the participation-success relationship) is superior to the behavioral theory (i.e., participation "causes" success); and (4) that user engagement during the installation phase is strongly associated with user satisfaction.

User-interface developments for the nineties

Abstract: The purpose and history of user interfaces are briefly recounted. The language model and the implementation model of the user-computer dialogue are examined. User-centered design is discussed, and approaches to design tools are described. Key developments for the 1990s are considered. These include base technologies, 3-D user interfaces, virtual realities, multimedia and hypermedia, groupware, and intelligent agents, i.e., computer-based assistants or guides. >

Computer analysis of user interfaces based on repetition in transcripts of user sessions

Abstract: It is generally acknowledged that the production of quality user interfaces requires a thorough understanding of the user and that this involves evaluating the interface by observing the user working with the system, or by performing human factors experiments. Such methods traditionally involve the use of video tape, protocol analysis, critical incident analysis, etc. These methods require time consuming analyses and may be invasive. In addition, the data obtained through such methods represent a relatively small portion of the use of a system. An alternative approach is to record all user input and systems output, i.e., log the user session. Such transcripts can be collected automatically and non-invasively over a long period of time. Unfortunately, this produces voluminous amounts of data. There is, therefore, a need for tools and techniques that allow an evaluator to identify potential performance and usability problems from such data. It is hypothesized that repetition of user actions is an important indicator of potential user interface problems.

A Reactive Approach to Explanation: Taking the User’s Feedback into Account

Abstract: Explanation is an interactive process, requiring a dialogue between advice-giver and advice-seeker. Yet current expert systems cannot participate in a dialogue with users. In particular these systems cannot clarify misunderstood explanations, elaborate on previous explanations, or respond to follow-up questions in the context of the on-going dialogue. In this paper, we describe a reactive approach to explanation — one that can participate in an on-going dialogue and employs feedback from the user to guide subsequent explanations. Our system plans explanations from a rich set of explanation strategies, recording the system’s discourse goals, the plans used to achieve them, and any assumptions made while planning a response. This record provides the dialogue context the system needs to respond appropriately to the user’s feedback. We illustrate our approach with examples of disambiguating a follow-up question and producing a clarifying elaboration in response to a misunderstood explanation.

Modeling the user's conceptual knowledge in BGP-MS, a user modeling shell system

Abstract: The paper describes the modeling of a user's conceptual knowledge in the general user modeling shell system BGP-MS. On the one hand, BGP-MS is a workbench for the develment of a user model in a particular application domain. It supports the definition of the architecture of the individual user model, and of the architecture and the contents of user stereotypes. A rich representation language for conceptual knowledge, a partition mechanism, and flexible graphics-based interfaces are at the disposal of the user model developer. On the other hand, BGP-MS is a runtime user modeling tool aimed at fulfilling central tasks of a user modeling component in an application system. In this mode, the system offers a functional interface for accessing and updating the model of the current user, as well as basic domain-independent inference mechanisms, support for inferences defined by the developer, and a customizable stereotype management utility. The usefulness of BGP-MS will be demonstrated by illustrating how it can support the user modeling of various recently developed application systems. Cet article traite de la modelisation des connaissances conceptuelles d'un utilisateur a l'interieur du systeme general de modelisation d'utilisateur BGP-MS. D'une part, le systeme BGP-MS sert de base a l'elaboration d'un modele d'utilisateur a l'interieur d'un domaine d'application particulier. II contribue a la definition de l'architecture du modele d'utilisateur individuel, ainsi qu'a la definition de l'architecture et du contenu des stereotypes d'utilisateur. Un langage de representation des connaissances conceptuelles, un mecanisme de partition et des interfaces flexibles a base de graphiques sont au service du concepteur d'un modele d';utilisateur. D'autre part, le systeme BGP-MS est un outil de modelisation d'utilisateur d'execution concu pour remplir les taches centrales d'une composante de modelisation d'utilisateur a l'interieur d'un systeme d'application. Dans ce mode, le systeme assure une interface fonctionnelle pour l'acces et la mise a jour du modele d'utilisateur actuel, ainsi que des mecanismes d'inference independante du domaine, un soutien aux inferences definies par le constructeur et un utilitaire de gestion de stereotypes adaptable. Une illustration du role du systeme BGP-MS dans la modelisation d'utilisateur de divers systemes d'application recemment mis au point atteste de son utilitye.

A cognitive model for the perception and understanding of graphs

Abstract: Despite the increasing importance of graphics in the design of information systems, we have only a partial understanding of how people perceive and process graphic information. This paper describes a computer program, UCIE, that simulates graphical perception. The goal of the program is to model the underlying perceptual and cognitive processes people use to decode information from a graph. The model predicts reaction time from assumptions about eye movements, STM capacity and duration limitations, and the relative level of difficulty to acquire information in each glance. The model summarizes a large body of empirical results and can be the core of an expert advisor for the construction of graphs. CHI'90 Paper Submission Topic User Interface Design Issues graphic presentations, screen layout Models of the User Model of graphical perception, GOMS Presentation format Oral paper presentation with a short demonstration of the computer model as part of the presentation and a separate demonstration of the program that provides hands-on use for

Building a user model implicitly from a cooperative advisory dialog

Abstract: This paper reviews existing methods for building user models to support adaptive, interactive systems, identifies sigificant problems with these approaches, and describes a new method for implicitly acquiring user models from an ongoing user-system dialog. Existing explicit user model acquisition methods, such as user edited models or model building dialogs put additional burden on the user and introduce artificial model acquisition dialogs. Hand coding stereotypes, another explicit acquisition method, is a tedious and error-prone process. On the other hand, implicit acquisition techniques such as computing presuppositions or entailments either draw too few inferences to be generally useful, or too many to be trusted. In contrast, this paper describes GUMAC, a General User Model Acquisition Component that uses heuristic rules to make default inferences about users' beliefs from their interaction with an advisory expert system. These rules are based on features of human action and conversation that constrain people's behavior and establish expectations about their knowledge. The application of these rules is illustrated with two examples of extended dialogs between users and an investment advisory system. During the course of these conversations, GUMAC is able to acquire an extensive model of the users' beliefs about the aspects of the domain considered in the dialog. These models, in turn, provide the sort of information needed by an explanation generator to tailor explanations the advisory system gives to its users.

Book review: User Models in Dialog Systems Edited by A. Kobsa and W. Wahlster (Springer-Verlag, 1989)

Abstract: User Models in Dialog Systems is informative and thought-provoking. The book is based upon a user modeling conference held in 1986. Since then, the various contributors have obviously worked at adding tutorial and review material to the chapters to supplement the research reports. This is very useful, especially since the primary effect of the book will be to promote the idea that interactive software systems can eventually become intelligent partners in goal-directed dialogs with humans. The book is by no means an engineering handbook; it is primarily theoretical, but includes sketches of requirements specifications and feasibility demonstrations.

Indexing hypertext documents in context

Abstract: To generate intelligent indexing that allows context-sensitive information retrieval, a system must be able to acquire knowledge directly through interaction with users. In this paper, we present the architecture for CID (Computer Integrated Documentation), a system that enables integration of various technical documents in a hypertext framework and includes an intelligent browsing system that incorporates indexing in context. CID's knowledge-based indexing mechanism allows case-based knowledge acquisition by experimentation. It utilizes on-line user information requirements and suggestions either to reinforce current indexing in case of success or to generate new knowledge in case of failure. This allows CID's intelligent interface system to provide helpful responses, even when no a priori user model is available. Our system in fact learns how to exploit a user model based on experience (from user feedback). We describe CID's current capabilities and provide an overview of our plans for extending the system.

Management issue recognition and resolution knowledge processor

Abstract: A knowledge processing system and a method for operating same for interacting with a user of the system. The system includes a user interface for prompting the user to enter information and for receiving entered information from the user. The user interface is coupled during use to a knowledge model processor (10) that includes a Dialogue Control Interpreter (16) that provides structured messages to a user so as to elicit responses from the user concerning Imperatives of the user, Situations of the user, Knowledge known to the user, and Executive Agents known to the user. This information is stored in a User Awarenesses database (18). The Dialogue Control Interpreter operates in accordance with predetermined dialoguing Imperatives (20) to elicit, record, and access user responses in sequences that guide and motivate the user to follow predetermined sequences of thought, based on the recorded User Awarenesses database of Imperatives, Situations, Knowledge, and Executive Agents. The system further includes dialoguing knowledge templates (22) which are designed to enable the user to make an appropriate response to inquiries by the system so as to motivate and guide the user along predetermined sequences of thought.

Primitives for programming multi-user interfaces

Abstract: We have designed a set of primitives for programming multi-user interfaces by extending a set of existing highlevel primitives for programming single-user interfaces. These primitives support both collaboration-transparent and collaboration-aware multi-user programs and allow existing single-user programs to be incrementally changed to corresponding multi-user programs, The collaborationaware primitives include primitives for tailoring the input and output to a user, authenticating users, executing code in a user’s environment and querying and setting properties of it, and tailoring the user interface coupling. We have identified several application-independent user groups that arise in a collaborative setting and allow the original single-user calls to be targeted at these groups. In addition, we provide primitives for defining application-specific groups. Our preliminary experience with these primitives shows that they can be used to easily implement collaborative tasks of a wide range of applications including message systems, multi-user editors, computer conferencing systems, and coordination systems. In this paper, we motivate, describe, and illustrate these primitives, discuss how primitives similar to them can be offered by a variety of user interface tools, and point out future directions for work.

User participation and user involvement in information system development

Abstract: Defining user participation as the activities performed by users during system development and user involvement as the importance and personal relevance of a system to its user, the authors examine the empirical relationship of participation and involvement with system usage. Based on a field survey of 74 users of management support systems and 31 users of transaction systems the following conclusions are drawn: user participation and user involvement represent two distinct constructs; the role of user participation in achieving system success may be less than has been generally believed; user involvement, as defined and measured, is a key variable for system success; and as a distinct construct, user involvement is related to more variables than user participation alone. >

Improving implementation of graphical user interfaces for object-oriented knowledge-bases

Abstract: Second generation knowledge-based systems have raised the focus of research from rulebased to model-based systems. Model-based systems allow knowledge to be separated into target domain model knowledge and problem solving knowledge.This work supports and builds on the hypothesis that fully object-oriented knowledge-bases provide the best properties for managing large amounts of target domain model know ledge. The ease by which object-oriented representations can be mapped to efficient graphical user interfaces is also beneficial for building interactive graphical knowledge acquisition and maintenance tools. These allow experts to incrementally enter and maintain larger quantities of knowledge in knowledge-bases without support from a knowledge engineer.The thesis points to recent advances in the conception of knowledge-based systems. It shows the need for efficient user interfaces for management of large amounts of heterogeneous knowledge components. It describes a user interface software architecture for implementing interactive graphical knowledge-base browsers and editors for such large knowledge-bases. The architecture has been inspired by object-oriented programming and data-bases, infological theory, cognitive psychology and practical implementation work.The goal with the user interface software architecture has been to facilitate the implementation of flexible interactive environments that support creative work. Theoretical models of the entire user interaction situation including the knowledge-base, the user interface and the user are described. The models indicate how theoretical comparisons of different user interface designs can be made by using certain suggested measures.The architecture was developed in the frame of a cooperative project with the Department of Mechanical Engineering on developing a knowledge-based intelligent front end for a computer aided engineering system for damage tolerance design on aircraft structures.

Active acquisition of user models: Implications for decision-theoretic dialog planning and plan recognition

Abstract: This article investigates the implications ofactive user model acquisition upon plan recognition, domain planning, and dialog planning in dialog architectures. A dialog system performs active user model acquisition by querying the user during the course of the dialog. Existing systems employ passive strategies that rely on inferences drawn from passive observation of the dialog. Though passive acquisition generally reduces unnecessary dialog, in some cases the system can effectively shorten the overall dialog length by selectively initiating subdialogs for acquiring information about the user.

Utilizing user models to handle ambiguity and misconceptions in robust plan recognition

Abstract: User models play a critical role in robust plan recognition by controlling ambiguity. They allow an observer to prefer one plan explanation over another, and they provide a means of measuring the believability of misconceptions when the user's plan is flawed. This paper discusses the motivation for including a user model in robust plan recognition, and shows how a probabilistic interpretation offers a practical means of incorporating a user model into the plan recognition process.

User-Centered Graphical User Interface Design for GIS (91-6)

Abstract: The quality of the user interface has a great bearing on the utility of a geographic information system. The user interface, however, has not been a strong point of GIS. To increase the efficiency of GIS the user interface must provide a simple conceptual model of what is happening to the database. It must be easy to learn, appear natural, and independent of implementation complexities such as data structures and algorithms. In order to do this, the user interface of the GIS should show itself to its user as a system, and not as various collections of data. This paper discusses how traditional user interface design focuses on how to best represent the software functionality rather than on how to meet the expectations of the user. User-Centered Design is offered as an alternative that focuses on the two-way mapping between system functionality and the user's conceptual model of the system. Graphical user interface techniques are discussed as ways of creating the necessary two way mapping and facilitating the usability of GIS systems.

A review and synthesis of user modelling in intelligent systems

Abstract: This paper gives a state-of-the-art overview of the rapidly expanding field of user modelling in artificially intelligent systems. After showing how a user modelling component can improve parts of the processing of, and the interaction with, a large number of systems, the current situation in this field is sketched by means of a number of short descriptions of systems employing user modelling techniques. Next, a synthesis of this review is made by discussing the aspects on which the existing methods differ. It turns out that these aspects can best be approached from two points of view: the technical level and a more abstract, functional level. This dichotomy results in eight dimensions on which to compare the modelling methods. The synthesis is then completed by describing the existing modelling techniques, and classifying the reviewed systems. In the final section, current trends in the field are outlined and prerequisites for acceptance of user modelling on a larger scale are discussed.

A neural network approach for user modeling

Abstract: A neural network approach to user modeling is proposed in the context of information retrieval. User level of expertise and the inquiry interests underlying the goals are considered as two major factors affecting information provision. A prototype system, UM-net, is presented for modeling user domain experiences and the inquiry interests and tailoring the descriptions about software packages provided to a user. >

Adaptive interfaces: modeling tasks and users

Abstract: The use of fuzzy logic is suggested as a powerful set of techniques for building user models. With this in mind, the author presents an introductory overview of several projects that are approaching user modeling from a fuzzy perspective. It is suggested that fuzzy user models and fuzzy users can provide the necessary adaptive mechanisms for intelligent human-computer interfaces. >

Cognitive view mechanism for multimedia database system

Abstract: Describes a cognitive human interface for visual interaction with image database systems. The authors' approach gives a general framework of visual interaction. They adopt both an image model and a user model to interpret and operate the contents of image data from the user's viewpoint. The image model describes the physical constraints of image data, while the user model reflects the visual perception processes of the user. They propose the algorithms for typical visual interaction styles; a query by visual example (QVE) and a query by subjective descriptions (QBD). The former includes a sketch retrieval function, and a similarity retrieval function and the latter includes a sense retrieval function. These algorithms are developed for their experimental database system, the TRADEMARK and the ART MUSEUM. These functions use a pictorial index created by image analysis and a personal index automatically learned as the user model. >

User interfaces for information systems

Abstract: This paper presents descriptions of four information-system interface projects in progress at ESRIN, each demonstrating a somewhat different approach to interface design, but ali sharing the commonality of responding to user goals, tasks and characteristics. It is suggested that next-generation scientific information systems will have to be designed for direct access by end users to a large variety of information sources, through a commom interface. Design of such systems, including their interfaces, should be based on a multi-level analysis of user goals, tasks and domain views.

Exploiting temporal and novel information from the user in plan recognition

Abstract: This paper is concerned with the general topic of recognizing the plan of a user, to include a representation of the user's plans as part of a user model. We focus on extending the coverage of plan recognition, by allowing for additional detail in the user's plan beyond fixed specifications of possible plans in a system's library. We provide procedures for handling two distinct extensions: recognizing temporal constraints from the user and admitting novel information. We conclude by commenting on the importance of these extensions when including plans in a user model in order to enhance communication between the system and the user.

Towards a Toolbox for Geographic User Interfaces

Abstract: User interfaces form an essential component of applications that manipulate graphic data (geography, cartography, CAD/CAM, ...). Although some work has been done recently in this area, each system usually has its own ad hoc user interface built from scratch, and there is no user interface model general enough for customizing the presentation of such applications.

COGNET and BATON: an integrated approach to embedding user models in complex systems

Abstract: The authors discuss conceptual and computational aspects of the COGNET (cognitive network of tasks)/BATON (backboard architecture for task-oriented networks) architecture for embedding user models in an operational system or simulation. Technology to capture and embed cognitive models of the system user in an active HCI (human-computer interaction) is key for intelligent human-computer integration. There are two serious problems that this enabling technology must overcome: how to built a model of the human user that is sufficiently powerful and accurate that it can act as an embedded model subsystem, given the early and imprecise state of the art of cognitive modeling; and how to implement such a model computationally, once it is created, in the robust and efficient form needed for real-time interaction. The application of the COGNET model to built a user model and the implementation of the model using BATON are considered. An example application for active HCI from the ASW (air antisubmarine warfare) problem domain is discussed. >

Using neural networks and expert systems to model users in an object-oriented environment

Abstract: The authors discuss the usefulness of neural networks and expert systems for modeling users in an environment in which information about software is retrieved. User modeling offers an effective technique for determining user requirements and for enhancing the relationship between a user's cognitive abilities and software sophistication. A hybrid architecture is proposed in which the expert system is used for solving well-defined problem domains, and the inferred results are interpreted. The neural network is applied to recognize the user's pattern of stereotypes dynamically and solve the reasoning conflicts. To achieve a higher interaction efficiency and simplify the maintenance of the knowledge base with these two heterogeneous reasoning processes, an object-oriented environment is proposed as an integration platform. The framework of a prototype implementation is described which is an object-oriented intelligent consulting system for selecting appropriate problem-solving software. >