Régularité, génération de documents, et Cyc

Nous nous intéressons à la modélisation des réseaux hiérarchiques, et avons développé un modèle de hiérarchies sémantiques basé sur la RÉGULARITÉ, une généralisation de l’héritage [MIL 88a]. Nous nous intéressons également à la génération de documents séquentiels structurés à partir de documents hypertextes en utilisant la sémantique des liens hypertextes pour structurer la présentation [MIL 90b]. Nous avons acquis une copie de la base de connaissances CYC [LEN 90a] dans le but de: 1) utiliser le réseau sémantique sous-jacent à CYC pour aider à la génération de textes, et 2) tester\ud l’hypothèse de la régularité. Ironiquement, la taille gigantesque de CYC a forcé ses concepteurs d’adopter des optimisations d’implantation qui la rendent peu adaptée aux explorations logiques profondes requises par la génération de textes. Par ailleurs, l’étude des patrons de régularité dans CYC nous a amené à généraliser la notion de régularité, et à formuler un certain nombre d’hypothèses quant à la structure logique de la base de connaissances

A cognitive model of fiction writing.

Models of the writing process are used to design software tools for writers who work with computers. This thesis is concerned with the construction of a model of fiction writing. The first stage in this construction is to review existing models of writing. Models of writing used in software design and writing research include behavioural, cognitive and linguistic varieties. The arguments of this thesis are, firstly, that current models do not provide an adequate basis for designing software tools for fiction writers. Secondly, research into writing is often based on questionable assumptions concerning language and linguistics, the interpretation of empirical research, and the development of cognitive models. It is argued that Saussure's linguistics provides an alternative basis for developing a model of fiction writing, and that Barthes' method of textual analysis provides insight into the ways in which readers and writers create meanings. The result of reviewing current models of writing is a basic model of writing, consisting of a cycle of three activities - thinking, writing, and reading. The next stage is to develop this basic model into a model of fiction writing by using narratology, textual analysis, and cognitive psychology to identify the kinds of thinking processes that create fictional texts. Remembering and imagining events and scenes are identified as basic processes in fiction writing; in cognitive terms, events are verbal representations, while scenes are visual representations. Syntax is identified as another distinct object of thought, to which the processes of remembering and imagining also apply. Genette's notion of focus in his analysis of text types is used to describe the role of characters in the writer's imagination: focusing the imagination is a process in which a writer imagines she is someone else, and it is shown how this process applies to events, scenes, and syntax. It is argued that a writer's story memory, influences his remembering and imagining; Todorov's work on symbolism is used to argue that interpretation plays the role in fiction writing of binding together these two processes. The role of naming in reading and its relation to problem solving is compared with its role in writing, and names or signifiers are added to the objects of thought in fiction writing. It is argued that problem solving in fiction writing is sometimes concerned with creating problems or mysteries for the reader, and it is shown how this process applies to events, scenes, signifiers and syntax. All these findings are presented in the form of a cognitive model of fiction writing. The question of testing is discussed, and the use of the model in designing software tools is illustrated by the description of a hypertextual aid for fiction writers