[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
1998-1999 Seminar Series
The Virtual Reality of User Modeling
W. Lewis Johnson
Director
Center for Advanced Research in Technology for Education
(CARTE)
University of Southern California / Information Science Institute
DEPARTMENT SEMINAR
DATE:
Monday August 31, 1998
TIME:
2:00pm
PLACE:
1C70 Engineering
*** Everyone is welcome ***
Abstract
Models of users are essential in order to build interactive systems that
assist users in performing complex tasks. In order for user modeling to
be a practical technology it must be able to cope with the realities of
tasks in real user settings. This presentation will discuss techniques
for extending the applicability of user modeling techniques so that they
are capable of handling the complexities of real-world tasks, and are
virtually ready for deployment. For complex tasks such as software
engineering activities, it is useful to merge the functions of task
modeling and task management, so that the task model is interactively
maintained and managed by both user and system. User modeling must be
able to exploit information about the context in which work takes place,
and respond to dynamic changes in this context. Many interesting tasks
involve teamwork; by modeling the interactions between team members, and
by limiting the detail of the model, it becomes possible to apply user
modeling in a scalable fashion to team tasks. These points will be
illustrated in several systems developed at CARTE with user modeling
capabilities: an on-line inquiry and explanation system for software
systems called MediaDoc, an animated pedagogical agent for team training
in virtual environments called Steve, an instructor's assistant for team
training called Puppetmaster, and a Web-based animated pedagogical agent
called Adele.