Judgment and Reasoning

Based on the concepts in [AB83], wouldn't it be nice, if you could just ask the DAO to explain itself? Answering the question, ``why did you do that instead of this?'' reduces the explanation task to one of accounting for the differences between a pair of moves instead of a `verbose' enumeration of all possible bed assignments. Preferably only the relevant data would be presented. Using judgment to form an interpretation of the environment with respect to a goal, say a group request, an analysis could explain why the roommates did not get together. Using some form of reasoning, it could propose avenues to make a move happen. Given the ability to recognize significant differences in the value of concepts, it might call our attention to empty bed situations, a gender inequity, or a smoking stalemate. Currently this is all done by two people using the GUI and DAO's extensive reports.

download thesis