Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

   PDF

2. Computational Models and Systems

   1. Preface Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX

      • Stephen J. Hegner, Paul Mc Kevitt, Peter Norvig, Robert Wilensky

      Pages 1-6

   2. Editorial Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX: Computational Models and Systems

      • Stephen J. Hegner, Paul Mc Kevitt, Peter Norvig, Robert Wilensky

      Pages 7-10

   3. An Intelligent Human-Computer Interface for Provision of On-Line Help

      • Jennifer Jerrams-Smith

      Pages 11-28

   4. Virtues and Problems of an Active Help System for UNIX

      • Maria Virvou, John Jones, Mark Millington

      Pages 29-48

   5. The Berkeley UNIX Consultant Project

      • Robert Wilensky, David N. Chin, Marc Luria, James Martin, James Mayfield, Dekai Wu

      Pages 49-94

   6. The OSCON Operating System Consultant

      • Paul Mc Kevitt

      Pages 95-125

   7. USCSH: An Active Intelligent Assistance System

      • Manton Matthews, Walter Pharr, Gautam Biswas, Harish Neelakandan

      Pages 127-147

3. Planning and Knowledge Representation

   1. Editorial Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX: Planning and Knowledge Representation

      • Stephen J. Hegner, Paul Mc Kevitt, Peter Norvig, Robert Wilensky

      Pages 149-152

   2. The SINIX Consultant - Towards a Theoretical Treatment of Plan Recognition

      • Matthias Hecking

      Pages 153-179

   3. Plan Realization for Complex Command Interaction in the UNIX Help Domain

      • Stephen J. Hegner

      Pages 181-228

   4. An Assumption-based Truth Maintenance System in Active Aid for UNIX Users

      • John Jones, Mark Millington, Maria Virvou

      Pages 229-252

   5. What Do You Know about Mail? Knowledge Representation in the SINIX Consultant

      • Christel Kemke

      Pages 253-275

4. Natural Language Dialogue

   1. Editorial Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX: Natural Language Dialogue

      • Stephen J. Hegner, Paul Mc Kevitt, Peter Norvig, Robert Wilensky

      Pages 277-281

   2. Planning Intelligent Responses in a Natural Language System

      • David N. Chin

      Pages 283-331

   3. Strategies for Expressing Concise, Helpful Answers

      • David N. Chin

      Pages 333-350

   4. Evaluating Plan Recognition Systems: Three Properties of a Good Explanation

      • James Mayfield

      Pages 351-376

   5. Representing UNIX Domain Metaphors

      • James H. Martin

      Pages 377-401

   6. Using Justification Patterns to Advise Novice UNIX Users

      • Alex Quilici

      Pages 403-420

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.

• Prolog
• artificial intelligence
• cognition
• knowledge
• knowledge representation
• modeling
• operating system

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