2,781 research outputs found
Towards an Indexical Model of Situated Language Comprehension for Cognitive Agents in Physical Worlds
We propose a computational model of situated language comprehension based on
the Indexical Hypothesis that generates meaning representations by translating
amodal linguistic symbols to modal representations of beliefs, knowledge, and
experience external to the linguistic system. This Indexical Model incorporates
multiple information sources, including perceptions, domain knowledge, and
short-term and long-term experiences during comprehension. We show that
exploiting diverse information sources can alleviate ambiguities that arise
from contextual use of underspecific referring expressions and unexpressed
argument alternations of verbs. The model is being used to support linguistic
interactions in Rosie, an agent implemented in Soar that learns from
instruction.Comment: Advances in Cognitive Systems 3 (2014
Metaphors Matter: Top-Down Effects on Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism, or the attribution of human mental states and characteristics to non-human entities, has been widely demonstrated to be cued automatically by certain bottom-up appearance and behavioral features in machines. In this thesis, I argue that the potential for top-down effects to influence anthropomorphism has so far been underexplored. I motivate and then report the results of a new empirical study suggesting that top-down linguistic cues, including anthropomorphic metaphors, personal pronouns, and other grammatical constructions, increase anthropomorphism of a robot. As robots and other machines become more integrated into human society and our daily lives, more thorough understanding of the process of anthropomorphism becomes more critical: the cues that cause it, the human behaviors elicited, the underlying mechanisms in human cognition, and the implications of our influenced thought, talk, and treatment of robots for our social and ethical frameworks. In these regards, as I argue in this thesis and as the results of the new empirical study suggest, the top-down effects matter
Addressee Identification In Face-to-Face Meetings
We present results on addressee identification in four-participants face-to-face meetings using Bayesian Network and Naive Bayes classifiers. First, we investigate how well the addressee of a dialogue act can be predicted based on gaze, utterance and conversational context features. Then, we explore whether information about meeting context can aid classifiersâ performances. Both classifiers perform the best when conversational context and utterance features are combined with speakerâs gaze information. The classifiers show little gain from information about meeting context
Kaplan's Sloppy Thinker and the Demonstrative Origine of Indeicals
In this paper we give some suggestions from etymology on the contrast between Kaplanâs direct reference theory and a neo-Fregean view on indexicals. After a short summary of the philosophical debate on indexicals (§1), we use some remarks about the hidden presence of a demonstrative root in all indexicals to derive some provisional doubts concerning Kaplanâs criticism of what he calls âsloppy thinkerâ (§2). To support those doubts, we will summarise some etymological data on the derivation of the so-called âpure indexicalsâ from an original demonstrative root (§ 3). The aim of the paper is to consider etymological data as providing evidence for alternative theories of language and fostering new directions in linguistic and philosophical research on specific topics
Show Me You Care: Trait Empathy, Linguistic Style and Mimicry on Facebook
Linguistic mimicry, the adoption of anotherâs language patterns, is a subconscious behavior with pro-social benefits. However, some professions advocate its conscious use in empathic communication. This involves mutual mimicry; effective communicators mimic their interlocutors, who also mimic them back. Since mimicry has often been studied in face-to-face contexts, we ask whether individuals with empathic dis- positions have unique communication styles and/or elicit mimicry in mediated communication on Facebook. Participants completed Davisâ Interpersonal Reactivity Index and provided access to Facebook activity. We confirm that dispositional empathy is correlated to the use of particular stylistic features. In addition, we identify four empathy profiles and find correlations to writing style. When a linguistic feature is used, this often âtriggersâ use by friends. However, the presence of particular features, rather than participant dispo- sition, best predicts mimicry. This suggests that machine-human communications could be enhanced based on recently used features, without extensive user profiling
A Review of Verbal and Non-Verbal Human-Robot Interactive Communication
In this paper, an overview of human-robot interactive communication is
presented, covering verbal as well as non-verbal aspects of human-robot
interaction. Following a historical introduction, and motivation towards fluid
human-robot communication, ten desiderata are proposed, which provide an
organizational axis both of recent as well as of future research on human-robot
communication. Then, the ten desiderata are examined in detail, culminating to
a unifying discussion, and a forward-looking conclusion
Do People Perceive Alexa as Gendered? A Cross-Cultural Study of Peopleâs Perceptions, Expectations, and Desires of Alexa
Mainly, the scholarly debate on Alexa has focused on sexist/anti-woman gender representations in the everyday life of many families, on a cluster of themes such as privacy, insecurity, and trust, and on the world of education and health. This paper takes another stance and explores via online survey methodology how university student respondents in two countries (the United States, n = 333; and Italy, n = 322) perceive Alexa's image and gender, what they expect from this voice-based assistant, and how they would like Alexa to be. Results of a free association exercise showed that Alexa's image was scarcely embodied or explicitly gendered. Rather, Alexa was associated with a distinct category of being-the VBA, virtual assistant, or digital helper-with which one talks, and which possesses praiseworthy technical and social traits. Expectations of Alexa and desires regarding Alexa's ideal performance are presented and compared across the two country samples
Do People Perceive Alexa as Gendered? A Cross-Cultural Study of Peopleâs Perceptions, Expectations, and Desires of Alexa
Mainly, the scholarly debate on Alexa has focused on sexist/anti-woman gender representations in the everyday life of many families, on a cluster of themes such as privacy, insecurity, and trust, and on the world of education and health. This paper takes another stance and explores via online survey methodology how university student respondents in two countries (the United States, n = 333; and Italy, n = 322) perceive Alexaâs image and gender, what they expect from this voice-based assistant, and how they would like Alexa to be. Results of a free association exercise showed that Alexaâs image was scarcely embodied or explicitly gendered. Rather, Alexa was associated with a distinct category of beingâthe VBA, virtual assistant, or digital helperâwith which one talks, and which possesses praiseworthy technical and social traits. Expectations of Alexa and desires regarding Alexaâs ideal performance are presented and compared across the two country samples
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