Abstract This paper describes Gammal og, a logic language based on multiset rewriting. The langua... more Abstract This paper describes Gammal og, a logic language based on multiset rewriting. The language combines the ability of describing parallel programs made of multiset transformation rules as in GAMMA with the execution model of logic programming in a strongly typed framework as in G odel. We describe the design choices, the syntax and the semantics of the language, and a prototype implementation.
Abstract This paper discusses a model-based approach to the design of complex interaction environ... more Abstract This paper discusses a model-based approach to the design of complex interaction environments like virtual worlds, mixed and augmented reality. The environment a user interacts with is seen as a virtual environment populated by virtual entities, created and maintained active by a program interpreted by the computer, which can be described by specifying the behavior of the population.
Abstract Software Shaping Workshops (SSWs) are software environments, by which end-users can cont... more Abstract Software Shaping Workshops (SSWs) are software environments, by which end-users can contribute to shape the system to access information objects, according to their culture, experience, needs, skills. SSW permits to end-users to customize the access to information objects needed to perform their tasks, and to customize and tailor tools for managing information objects organized in a digital library.
This paper introduces the active mental entities approach to the design of intelligent autonomous... more This paper introduces the active mental entities approach to the design of intelligent autonomous agents. In this approach, mental attitudes are conceived as active computational entities and the overall mental activity of an agent results from their independent operation and interaction. In order to provide a formal support to this approach, we propose argumentation theory as a basis for the definition of interaction mechanisms among active mental entities.
Abstract. Computer users are evolving from passive consumers of computer tools and data to a more... more Abstract. Computer users are evolving from passive consumers of computer tools and data to a more active role of information and software artifacts producers. Current work practices require end-users to tailor their software environments for better adapting them to their needs, and even to create or modify software artifacts. We describe our meta-design methodology that allows user representatives to be involved in the design of systems that will be used by all the end-users.
Abstract There are several categories of end-users of computer systems, depending on their cultur... more Abstract There are several categories of end-users of computer systems, depending on their culture, skills, and types of tasks they perform. This paper recognizes the problem of 'user diversity'even among people of the same technical or scientific tradition, and focuses on the study of a specific category of end-users, that we call domain-expert users: they are professionals in some domain different from computer science, who need to use computers in their daily work.
ABSTRACT The paper describes an approach for identifying relationships between design patterns in... more ABSTRACT The paper describes an approach for identifying relationships between design patterns in a collection, in order to define a pattern language. Starting from an initial collection of design patterns and building an ontology for representing the domain addressed by the collection, relationships between the patterns are identified. The pattern language is then defined by the design patterns themselves together with the identified relationships.
ABSTRACT Software Shaping Workshops are software environments that support various activities of ... more ABSTRACT Software Shaping Workshops are software environments that support various activities of End-User Development (EUD) and tailoring. The work described here introduces a perspective on system tailoring, distinguishing between tailored and tailorable software environments. Such environments are tailored by the developers to the work context, culture, experience, and skills of users; they are also tailorable by the users at runtime in order to adapt them to the specific work situation.
ABSTRACT In the Information Society, end-users keep increasing very fast in number, as well as in... more ABSTRACT In the Information Society, end-users keep increasing very fast in number, as well as in their demand with respect to the activities they would like to perform with computer environments, without being obliged to become computer specialists. There is a strong request of providing end-users with powerful and flexible environments, tailorable to the culture, skills and needs of very diverse end-user population.
Abstract We merge the Pictorial Computing Laboratory (PCL) approach to WIMP interaction with the ... more Abstract We merge the Pictorial Computing Laboratory (PCL) approach to WIMP interaction with the Interaction Locus approach to structuring visual spaces as a step toward the definition of a rational methodology for the design of Virtual Reality interactive systems. The merging of the two points of view allows the refinement of the model of interaction of a user with a virtual environment and leads to the definition of" real" and" virtual" characteristic pattern.
Abstract Designers of interactive computer-based artefacts need to specify their products with re... more Abstract Designers of interactive computer-based artefacts need to specify their products with respect to both the artefact's external behaviour and to its internal one. In order to manage the complexity of the design and the implementation process, we introduce a 3D interaction modelling space that takes into account the different levels at which the computer internal activities, the messages on the screen, and the user activities are specified. Multilevel modelling helps to consistently design and implement interactive systems.
Abstract Electronic document and electronic annotation evolve and complement the traditional docu... more Abstract Electronic document and electronic annotation evolve and complement the traditional document and annotation in recording, developing and making available community knowledge. This paper discusses electronic annotation and its importance as a tool for two way exchange of ideas among humans pursuing a common goal. The discussion is performed by presenting an example in the Earth science field.
Abstract Interactive systems supporting people activities, even those designed for a specific app... more Abstract Interactive systems supporting people activities, even those designed for a specific application domain, should be very flexible, ie, they should be easily adaptable to specific needs of the user communities. They should even allow users to personalize the system to better fit with their evolving needs. This paper presents an original model of the interaction and co-evolution processes occurring between humans and interactive systems and discusses an approach to design systems that supports such processes. The approach is ...
Abstract This paper describes Gammal og, a logic language based on multiset rewriting. The langua... more Abstract This paper describes Gammal og, a logic language based on multiset rewriting. The language combines the ability of describing parallel programs made of multiset transformation rules as in GAMMA with the execution model of logic programming in a strongly typed framework as in G odel. We describe the design choices, the syntax and the semantics of the language, and a prototype implementation.
Abstract This paper discusses a model-based approach to the design of complex interaction environ... more Abstract This paper discusses a model-based approach to the design of complex interaction environments like virtual worlds, mixed and augmented reality. The environment a user interacts with is seen as a virtual environment populated by virtual entities, created and maintained active by a program interpreted by the computer, which can be described by specifying the behavior of the population.
Abstract Software Shaping Workshops (SSWs) are software environments, by which end-users can cont... more Abstract Software Shaping Workshops (SSWs) are software environments, by which end-users can contribute to shape the system to access information objects, according to their culture, experience, needs, skills. SSW permits to end-users to customize the access to information objects needed to perform their tasks, and to customize and tailor tools for managing information objects organized in a digital library.
This paper introduces the active mental entities approach to the design of intelligent autonomous... more This paper introduces the active mental entities approach to the design of intelligent autonomous agents. In this approach, mental attitudes are conceived as active computational entities and the overall mental activity of an agent results from their independent operation and interaction. In order to provide a formal support to this approach, we propose argumentation theory as a basis for the definition of interaction mechanisms among active mental entities.
Abstract. Computer users are evolving from passive consumers of computer tools and data to a more... more Abstract. Computer users are evolving from passive consumers of computer tools and data to a more active role of information and software artifacts producers. Current work practices require end-users to tailor their software environments for better adapting them to their needs, and even to create or modify software artifacts. We describe our meta-design methodology that allows user representatives to be involved in the design of systems that will be used by all the end-users.
Abstract There are several categories of end-users of computer systems, depending on their cultur... more Abstract There are several categories of end-users of computer systems, depending on their culture, skills, and types of tasks they perform. This paper recognizes the problem of 'user diversity'even among people of the same technical or scientific tradition, and focuses on the study of a specific category of end-users, that we call domain-expert users: they are professionals in some domain different from computer science, who need to use computers in their daily work.
ABSTRACT The paper describes an approach for identifying relationships between design patterns in... more ABSTRACT The paper describes an approach for identifying relationships between design patterns in a collection, in order to define a pattern language. Starting from an initial collection of design patterns and building an ontology for representing the domain addressed by the collection, relationships between the patterns are identified. The pattern language is then defined by the design patterns themselves together with the identified relationships.
ABSTRACT Software Shaping Workshops are software environments that support various activities of ... more ABSTRACT Software Shaping Workshops are software environments that support various activities of End-User Development (EUD) and tailoring. The work described here introduces a perspective on system tailoring, distinguishing between tailored and tailorable software environments. Such environments are tailored by the developers to the work context, culture, experience, and skills of users; they are also tailorable by the users at runtime in order to adapt them to the specific work situation.
ABSTRACT In the Information Society, end-users keep increasing very fast in number, as well as in... more ABSTRACT In the Information Society, end-users keep increasing very fast in number, as well as in their demand with respect to the activities they would like to perform with computer environments, without being obliged to become computer specialists. There is a strong request of providing end-users with powerful and flexible environments, tailorable to the culture, skills and needs of very diverse end-user population.
Abstract We merge the Pictorial Computing Laboratory (PCL) approach to WIMP interaction with the ... more Abstract We merge the Pictorial Computing Laboratory (PCL) approach to WIMP interaction with the Interaction Locus approach to structuring visual spaces as a step toward the definition of a rational methodology for the design of Virtual Reality interactive systems. The merging of the two points of view allows the refinement of the model of interaction of a user with a virtual environment and leads to the definition of" real" and" virtual" characteristic pattern.
Abstract Designers of interactive computer-based artefacts need to specify their products with re... more Abstract Designers of interactive computer-based artefacts need to specify their products with respect to both the artefact's external behaviour and to its internal one. In order to manage the complexity of the design and the implementation process, we introduce a 3D interaction modelling space that takes into account the different levels at which the computer internal activities, the messages on the screen, and the user activities are specified. Multilevel modelling helps to consistently design and implement interactive systems.
Abstract Electronic document and electronic annotation evolve and complement the traditional docu... more Abstract Electronic document and electronic annotation evolve and complement the traditional document and annotation in recording, developing and making available community knowledge. This paper discusses electronic annotation and its importance as a tool for two way exchange of ideas among humans pursuing a common goal. The discussion is performed by presenting an example in the Earth science field.
Abstract Interactive systems supporting people activities, even those designed for a specific app... more Abstract Interactive systems supporting people activities, even those designed for a specific application domain, should be very flexible, ie, they should be easily adaptable to specific needs of the user communities. They should even allow users to personalize the system to better fit with their evolving needs. This paper presents an original model of the interaction and co-evolution processes occurring between humans and interactive systems and discusses an approach to design systems that supports such processes. The approach is ...
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