Mixed-Initiative Systems for Training and Decision-Aid Applications

Abstract
The project reported presents SCHOLAR, the first prototype system capable of a true mixed-initiative man-computer dialogue on a given topic. The computer is capable of answering questions from the man (using a comfortable subset of English), as well as of generating questions, analyzing the man's responses, and producing consequent actions. All this occurs without anticipation of conversational items and sequences. A very powerful program, applicable to many subject matters, acts upon a highly structured data base to generate the computer answers and questions, to evaluate the man's answers, and to produce suitable action sequences. The U.S. Air Force can benefit considerably from the development of such mixed-initiative 'knowledgeable' systems. The relevancy for applications like training, logistics and resource allocation, command and control systems, intelligence systems, and on-line design and planning is clear. A system built along the lines of SCHOLAR can be valuable as an on-line aid to decision makers, by facilitating the interaction with complex and highly structured military data bases. SCHOLAR is also ideally suited to evolve into a on-line training facility to assist computer users in utilizing a new computer system or language.

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