28154888
Architecture of a Framework for Generic Assisting Conversational Agents
In this paper, we focus on the notion of Assisting Conversational Agents (ACA) that are embodied agents dedicated to the function of assistance for novice users of software components and/or web services. We discuss the main requirements of such agents and we emphasize the genericity issue arising in the dialogical part of such architectures. This prompts us to propose a mediator-based framework, using a dynamic symbolic representation of the runtime of the assisted components. Then we define three strategies for the development of the mediators that are validated by the implementation of experiences taken in various situations.
27507077
Temporal codes within a typology of cooperation between modalities
The Human-Machine Communication Department of LIMSI (LIMSI Report 1994), a laboratory of the French National Scientific Research Agency (CNRS), conducts research in the field of Pattern Recognition, Artificial Intelligence and Pattern Generation. Several approaches are currently investigated there for studying interactions between modalities: studies about the cognitive processes involved in human intermodal tasks (Denis and Cocude 1992; Gryl 1994; Daniel et al. 1994), image and language interactions for learning (Bordeaux 1993), human factors (Castaing and True 1993), symbolic approaches for designing multimodal human-computer interfaces (Bellik and Teil 1993; Bares et al. 1992), spatial reasoning (Ligozat 1992; Briffault 1992).
14471368
A Unified Framework for Constructing Multimodal Experiments and Applications
Inspired by a Wizard of Oz (WOZ) simulation experiment, we developed a working prototype of a system that enables users to interact with a map display through synergistic combinations of pen and voice. To address many of the issues raised by multimodal fusion, our implementation employed a distributed multi-agent framework to coordinate parallel competition and cooperation among processing components. Since then, the agent-based infrastructure has been enhanced with a collaboration technology, creating a framework in which multiple humans and automated agents can naturally interact within the same graphical workspace.Our current endeavour is the leveraging of this architecture to create a unified implementation framework for simultaneously developing both WOZ simulated systems and their fully-automated counterparts. Bootstrapping effects made possible by such an approach are illustrated by an experiment currently under way in our laboratory: as a naive subject draws, writes, and speaks requests to a (simulated) interactive map, a hidden Wizard responds as efficiently as possible using our best fullyautomated system, through either standard graphical interface devices or multimodal combinations of pen and voice. The input choices made by both subject and Wizard are invaluable, and the data collected from each can be applied directly to evaluating and improving the automated part of the system.
12923227
Levels of Representation in the Annotation of Emotion for the Specification of Expressivity in ECAs
In this paper we present a two-steps approach towards the creation of affective Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs): annotation of a real-life nonacted emotional corpus and animation by copy-synthesis. The basis of our approach is to study how coders perceive and annotate at several levels the emotions observed in a corpus of emotionally rich TV video interviews. We use their annotations to specify the expressive behavior of an agent at several levels. We explain how such an approach can be useful for providing knowledge as input for the specification of non-basic patterns of emotional behaviors to be displayed by the ECA (e.g. which perceptual cues and levels of annotation are required for enabling the proper recognition of the emotions).
18135407
Guidelines for multimodal user interface design
JMUI (Journal on Multimodal User Interfaces), Special issue “Best of affective computing and intelligent Guidelines for multimodal user interface design. support, human multi-modal information processing. characteristics to the design of a user-oriented and guidelines of multimodal interface design. Artifact lifecycle management, Consumer and user, Interfaces in Automated.Aug 2 Aug 7Los Angeles, CA, USAThursday, 6 August 2015 / HCI International 20152015.hci.international/thursday​CachedDefining and Optimizing User Interfaces Information Complexity for AI Design and Development of Multimodal Applications: A Vision on Key Issues and Traditional Heuristics and Industry Guidelines to Evaluate Multimodal Digital Artifacts
15265
Experimental Evaluation of Bi-directional Multimodal Interaction with Conversational Agents
In the field of intuitive HCI, Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) are being developed mostly with speech input. In this paper, we study whether another input modality leads to a more effective and pleasant “bi-directional” multimodal communication. In a Wizard-of-Oz experiment, adults and children were videotaped while interacting with 2D animated agents within a game application. Each subject carried out a multimodal scenario (speech and/or pen input) and a speech-only scenario. The results confirm the usefulness of multimodal input, which yielded shorter scenarios, higher and more homogeneous ratings of easiness. Additional results underlined the importance of gesture interaction for children, and showed a modality specialization for certain actions. Finally, multidimensional analyses revealed links between behavioral and subjective data, such as an association of pen use and pleasantness for children. These results can be used for both developing the functional prototype and in the general framework of ECA-systems evaluation and specification.
618620
Corpus-based static branch prediction
Correctly predicting the direction that branches will take is increasingly important in today's wide-issue computer architectures. The name program-based branch prediction is given to static branch prediction techniques that base their prediction on a program's structure. In this paper, we investigate a new approach to program-based branch prediction that uses a body of existing programs to predict the branch behavior in a new program. We call this approach to program-based branch prediction, evidence-based static prediction, or ESP. The main idea of ESP is that the behavior of a corpus of programs can be used to infer the behavior of new programs. In this paper, we use a neural network to map static features associated with each branch to the probability that the branch will be taken. ESP shows significant advantages over other prediction mechanisms. Specifically, it is a program-based technique, it is effective across a range of programming languages and programming styles, and it does not rely on the use of expert-defined heuristics. 
In this paper, we describe the application of ESP to the problem of branch prediction and compare our results to existing program-based branch predictors. We also investigate the applicability of ESP across computer architectures, programming languages, compilers, and run-time systems. Averaging over a body of 43 C and Fortran programs, ESP branch prediction results in a miss rate of 20%, as compared with the 25% miss rate obtained using the best existing program-based heuristics.
222672
Development and maintenance of a Web site for a Bachelor program
This paper describes our experiences with the development and maintenance of the BSENG Web site, which provides information about a new Bachelor program for software engineering at the University of Victoria. The site's requirements lead to a design that emphasizes simplicity to ease maintenance. We used Macromedia Dreamweaver to develop the site. During development, we identified two important maintenance tasks: detection of dead links and preservation of the site's navigational structure, that are not well supported by Dreamweaver. We discuss how we use the Rigi reverse engineering environment to aid the Web site developer with these maintenance tasks.
14705463
C to Java migration experiences
With the growing popularity of the Java programming language for both client and server side applications in network-centric computing, there is a rising need for programming libraries that can be easily integrated into Java programs. In a previous paper, we surveyed current strategies for integrating C source code into Java programs, pointed out their weaknesses and presented goals for an improved migration approach. In this paper, we present the Ephedra approach to software migration and report on the results of three case studies transliterating C source code to Java using the Ephedra environment.
8053050
Characterization of Neuropathological Shape Deformations
We present a framework for analyzing the shape deformation of structures within the human brain. A mathematical model is developed describing the deformation of any brain structure whose shape is affected by both gross and detailed physical processes. Using our technique, the total shape deformation is decomposed into analytic modes of variation obtained from finite element modeling, and statistical modes of variation obtained from sample data. Our method is general, and can be applied to many problems where the goal is to separate out important from unimportant shape variation across a class of objects. In this paper, we focus on the analysis of diseases that affect the shape of brain structures. Because the shape of these structures is affected not only by pathology but also by overall brain shape, disease discrimination is difficult. By modeling the brain's elastic properties, we are able to compensate for some of the nonpathological modes of shape variation. This allows us to experimentally characterize modes of variation that are indicative of disease processes. We apply our technique to magnetic resonance images of the brains of individuals with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and normal-pressure hydrocephalus, as well as to healthy volunteers. Classification results are presented.
53305414
Fast Byzantine Consensus
We present the first protocol that reaches asynchronous Byzantine consensus in two communication steps in the common case. We prove that our protocol is optimal in terms of both number of communication steps and number of processes for two-step consensus. The protocol can be used to build a replicated state machine that requires only three communication steps per request in the common case. Further, we show a parameterized version of the protocol that is safe despite f Byzantine failures and, in the common case, guarantees two-step execution despite some number t of failures (t les f). We show that this parameterized two-step consensus protocol is also optimal in terms of both number of communication steps and number of processes