45789414
A Simple and Unifying Approach to Subjective Objects
Abstract Most object-oriented languages are objective: an object always responds to the same message in the same way. Subjective objects more closely match naturally occurring systems, and they provide consistent solutions to a wide range of problems, problems that otherwise must be solved by varied and specialized mechanisms. Applying a perspective-receiver symmetry principle in designing the subjectivity semantics of an object-oriented language results in a semantically uncluttered language with a surprisingly wide range of utility. We employ this approach in creating the language Us, a subjective version of Self.
9913634
Generalized and stationary scrolling
We present a generalized definition of scrolling that unifies a wide range of existing interaction techniques, from conventional scrolling through pan and zoom systems and fish-eye views. Furthermore it suggests a useful class of new scrolling techniques in which objects do not move across the display. These “stationary scrolling” techniques do not exhibit either of two problems that plague spatial scrolling system: discontinuity in salience and the undermining of the user's spatial memory.
5111320
Work rhythms: analyzing visualizations of awareness histories of distributed groups
We examined records of minute-by-minute computer activity coupled with information about the location of the activity, online calendar appointments, and e-mail activity. We present a number of visualizations of the data that exhibit meaningful patterns in users' activities. We demonstrate how the patterns vary between individuals and within individuals according to time of day, location, and day of the week. Some patterns augment the schedule information found in people's online calendars. We discuss applications for group coordination (especially across time zones) plus opportunities for future research. In light of the popularity of instant messaging, this research identifies some of the benefits and privacy risks associated with the uses of online presence and awareness information.
16499745
The Self-4.0 user interface: manifesting a system-wide vision of concreteness, uniformity, and flexibility
Manipulating programs is hard, while manipulating objects in the physical world is often easy. Several attributes of the physical world help make it comprehensible and manipulable: concreteness, uniformity, and flexibility. The Self programming system attempts to apply these attributes to the world within the computer. The semantics of the language, the efficiency and fidelity of its implementation, and the architecture of its user interface conspire to make the experience of constructing programs in Self immediate and tangible. We describe the mechanisms used to achieve this goal, and illustrate those mechanisms within the context of an extended programming task.
16267823
Variable selection and ranking for analyzing automobile traffic accident data
Variable ranking and feature selection are important concepts in data mining and machine learning. This paper introduces a new variable ranking technique named Sum Max Gain Ratio (SMGR). The new technique is evaluated within the domain of traffic accident data and against a more generalized dataset. In certain cases, SMGR is empirically shown to provide similar results to established approaches with significantly better runtime performance.
11105386
Automated auditing of design principle adherence
Software design patterns and refactoring browsers are useful tools in developing high-quality software. Object-Oriented Oracle (OOO) is a tool that combines patterns and refactoring and extends them with the ability to recognize when the source-base doesn't adhere to software design principles. OOO relies on sophisticated compiler analyses and a set of heuristics to recognize characteristics of the code where a design principle is applicable, but is not being used. We present an example where the OOO can recognize noncompliance of design rules and the analyses and heuristics that are used to do the recognition. We also discuss other patterns where this approach applies and results from a prototype.
18629340
Report on the 1984 Distributed Artificial Intelligence Workshop
The fifth Distributed Artificial Intclligencc Workshop tias held at the Schlumberger-Doll Research Laboratory from October 14 to 17, 1984 It was attended by 20 participants from academic and industrial institutions. As in the past,’ this workshop was designed as an informal meeting It included brief research rcport,s from individual groups along with genera1 discussion of questions of common interest. This report summarizes the general discussion and contains summaries of group presentations that have been contributed by individual speakers to scale the resources applied to a problem). Others arc motivated by problem characteristics, such as natural spatial or functional distribution. Finally, some researchers are motivated by the observation that some issues in problcm solving and reasoning (e.g., communication and coherent cooperation) are brought into sharp focus in the distributed setting. The main body of this report contains summaries written by individual attcndces of the workshop. This is, in turn, followed by a brief smnmary of the gcncral discus
15267324
The Contract Net Protocol: High-Level Communication and Control in a Distributed Problem Solver
The contract net protocol has been developed to specify problem-solving communication and control for nodes in a distributed problem solver. Task distribution is affected by a negotiation process, a discussion carried on between nodes with tasks to be executed and nodes that may be able to execute those tasks.
33919116
The Fighter Aircraft LCS: A Case of Different LCS Goals and Techniques
A system employed by the authors to acquire novel fighter aircraft manoeuvres from combat simulation is more akin to the traditional LCS model than to more recent systems. Given the difficulties often experienced in LCS research on simple problems, one must ask how a relatively primitive LCS has had consistent success in the complex domain of fighter aircraft manoeuvring. This paper presents the fighter aircraft LCS, in greater detail than in previous publications. Positive results from the system are discussed. The paper then focuses on the primary reasons the fighter aircraft LCS has avoided the difficulties of the traditional LCS. The authors believe the system's success has three primary origins: differences in credit assignment, differences in action encoding, and (possibly most importantly) a difference in system goals. In the fighter aircraft system, the goal has been simply the discovery of innovative, novel tactics, rather than online control. The paper concludes by discussing the most salient features of the fighter aircraft learning system, and how those features may be profitably combined with other LCS developments.