Skip to main content
Log in

Virtues and Problems of an Active Help System for UNIX

  • Published:
Artificial Intelligence Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An empirical study undertaken on a cross-sectionof UNIX users at an academic site reveals a role for anactive form of help system, rather than the more usualpassive kind. Sample scripts supporting this view arepresented and the kind of aid required for theseexamples is discussed. It is then proposed that toprovide such aid requires the construction andmaintenance of an individual model of each user.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Breuker, J. (1988). Coaching in Help Systems. In Self, J. (ed.) Artificial Intelligence and Human Learning, 310–337. London, UK: Chapman and Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, A. & Michalski R. (1989). The Logic of Plausible Reasoning: A Core Theory. Cognitive Science 13: 1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerrams-Smith, J. (1985). SUSI-A Smart User Interface. In Johnson, P. & Cook, S. (ed.) Proceedings of the Conference of the British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Specialist Group. Cambridge University Press.

  • Jones, J. G., Millington, M. & Virvou, M. (2000). An Assumption-based Truth Maintenance System in Active Aid for UNIX Users. In Hegner, S., Mc Kevitt, P., Norvig, P. & Wilensky, R. (eds.) Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemke, C. (1986). The SINIX Consultant: Requirements, Design, and Implementation of an Intelligent Help System for a UNIX Derivative, Bericht Nr. 11, FR. 10.2 Informatik IV, University of Saarland, Saarbrucken, FRG.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, M., Pharr, W., Biswas, G. & Neelakandan, H. (2000). USCSH: An Active Intelligent Assistance System. In Hegner, S., Mc Kevitt, P., Norvig, P. & Wilensky, R. (eds.) Intelligent Help Systems for UNIX. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  • Virvou, M. (1992). User Modelling Using a Human Plausible Reasoning Theory. Ph.D. thesis, CSRP 251, School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN19QH, UK.

  • Virvou, M. (1998). RESCUER: Intelligent Help for Plausible User Errors. In Proceedings of ED-MEDIA/ED-TELECOM 98, World Conferences on Educational Multimedia and Educational Telecommunications, Vol. 2, pp. 1413–1420.

  • Wilensky, R., Mayfield, J., Albert, A., Cox, C., Luria, M., Martin, J. & Wu, D. (1986). UC - A Progress Report, Report no. UCB/CSD 87/303, Computer Science Division (EECS), University of California at Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Virvou, M., Jones, J. & Millington, M. Virtues and Problems of an Active Help System for UNIX. Artificial Intelligence Review 14, 23–42 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006591231257

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006591231257

Navigation