Intelligent Help Systems for Unix

by Hegner, Stephen J.; Mc Kevitt, Paul; Norvig, Peter; Wilensky, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780792366416
• ISBN10: 0792366417
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

In this international collection of papers there is a wealth of knowledge on artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive science (CS) techniques applied to the problem of providing help systems mainly for the UNIX operating system. The research described here involves the representation of technical computer concepts, but also the representation of how users conceptualise such concepts. The collection looks at computational models and systems such as UC, Yucca, and OSCON programmed in languages such as Lisp, Prolog, OPS-5, and C which have been developed to provide UNIX help. These systems range from being menu-based to ones with natural language interfaces, some providing active help, intervening when they believe the user to have misconceptions, and some based on empirical studies of what users actually do while using UNIX. Further papers investigate planning and knowledge representation where the focus is on discovering what the user wants to do, and figuring out a way to do it, as well as representing the knowledge needed to do so. There is a significant focus on natural language dialogue where consultation systems can become active, incorporating user modfelling, natural language generation and plan recognition, modelling metaphors, and users' mistaken beliefs. Much can be learned from seeing how AI and CS techniques can be investigated in depth while being applied to a real test-bed domain such as help on UNIX.

Table of Contents

About the Authors	vii
Preface: Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX	1	(6)
Part I: Computational Models and Systems
Editorial Part I: Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX: Computational Models and Systems	7	(4)
An Intelligent Human-Computer Interface for Provision of On-Line Help	11	(18)
Jennifer Jerrams-Smith
Virtues and Problems of an Active Help System for UNIX	29	(20)
Maria Virvou
John Jones
Mark Millington
The Berkeley UNIX Consultant Project	49	(46)
Robert Wilensky
David N. Chin
Marc Luria
James Martin
James Mayfield
Dekai Wu
The OSCON Operating System Consultant	95	(32)
Paul McKevitt
USCSH: An Active Intelligent Assistance System	127	(26)
Manton Matthews
Walter Pharr
Gautam Biswas
Harish Neelakandan
Part II: Planning and Knowledge Representation
Editorial Part II: Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX: Planning and Knowledge Representation	149	(4)
The SINIX Consultant - Towards a Theoretical Treatment of Plan Recognition	153	(28)
Matthias Hecking
Plan Realization for Complex Command Interaction in the UNIX Help Domain	181	(48)
Stephen J. Hegner
An Assumption-based Truth Maintenance System in Active Aid for UNIX Users	229	(24)
John Jones
Mark Millington
Maria Virvou
What Do You Know about Mail? Knowledge Representation in the SINIX Consultant	253	(30)
Christel Kemke
Part III: Natural Language Dialogue
Editorial Part III: Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX: Natural Language Dialogue	277	(6)
Planning Intelligent Responses in a Natural Language System	283	(50)
David N. Chin
Strategies for Expressing Concise, Helpful Answers	333	(18)
David N. Chin
Evaluating Plan Recognition Systems: Three Properties of a Good Explanation	351	(26)
James Mayfield
Representing UNIX Domain Metaphors	377	(26)
James H. Martin
Using Justification Patterns to Advise Novise UNIX Users	403
Alex Quilici