The Replication Argument for Incompatibilism

In this paper, I articulate an argument for incompatibilism about moral responsibility and determinism. My argument comes in the form of an extended story, modeled loosely on Peter van Inwagen’s “rollback argument” scenario. I thus call it “the replication argument.” As I aim to bring out, though the argument is inspired by so-called “manipulation” and “original design” arguments, the argument is not a version of either such argument—and plausibly has advantages over both. The result, I believe, is a more convincing incompatibilist argument than those we have considered previously

Access to information: assessment of the use of automated interaction technologies in call centers

With the purpose of at lowering costs and reendering the demanded information available to users with no access to the internet, service companies have adopted automated interaction technologies in their call centers, which may or may not meet the expectations of users. Based on different areas of knowledge (man-machine interaction, consumer behavior and use of IT) 13 propositions are raised and a research is carried out in three parts: focus group, field study with users and interviews with experts. Eleven automated service characteristics which support the explanation for user satisfaction are listed, a preferences model is proposed and evidence in favor or against each of the 13 propositions is brought in. With balance scorecard concepts, a managerial assessment model is proposed for the use of automated call center technology. In future works, the propositions may become verifiable hypotheses through conclusive empirical research.Objetivando menores custos e fornecimento das informações desejadas por usuários muitas vezes sem acesso à internet, as empresas de serviço têm adotado tecnologias de interação automática em seus call centers, as quais podem ou não atender às expectativas dos usuários. Baseando-se em diferentes áreas do conhecimento (interação homem-máquina, comportamento do consumidor e uso de TI), 13 proposições são levantadas e desenvolve-se uma pesquisa em três partes: um focus group, um estudo de campo com usuários e entrevistas com especialistas. Listam-se onze características de atendimento automático que suportam a explicação da satisfação dos usuários, propõe-se um modelo de preferências e obtêm-se evidências a favor ou contra cada uma das 13 proposições. Com conceitos de balanced scorecard, propõe-se um modelo de avaliação gerencial para uso de tecnologia de atendimento automático em call centers. Em trabalhos futuros, as proposições poderão se transformar em hipóteses verificáveis através de uma pesquisa empírica conclusiva.Con El Objetivo De Lograr Menores Costos Y Suministrar Informaciones Deseadas Por Usuarios Muchas Veces Sin Acceso A Internet, Las Empresas De Servicios Han Adoptado Tecnologías De Interacción Automática En Sus Call Centers, Las Cuales Pueden O No Atender A Las Expectativas De Los Usuarios. Basándose En Diferentes áreas Del Conocimiento (interacción Hombre-máquina, Comportamiento Del Consumidor Y Uso De Ti), 13 Proposiciones Son Planteadas Y Se Desarrolla Una Investigación En Tres Partes: Un Focus Group, Un Estudio De Campo Con Usuarios, Y Entrevistas Con Especialistas. Se Enumeran Once Características De Atención Automática Que Soportan La Explicación De La Satisfacción De Los Usuarios, Se Propone Un Modelo De Preferencias Y Se Obtienen Evidencias A Favor O Contra Cada Una De Las 13 Proposiciones. Con Conceptos De Balanced Scorecard, Se Propone Un Modelo De Evaluación Gerencial Para El Uso De Tecnología De Atención Automática En Call Centers. En Trabajos Futuros, Las Proposiciones Podrán Transformarse En Hipótesis Verificables A Través De Una Investigación Empírica Conclusiva

Conceptual Design Reconsidered: The Case of the Internet Session Directory Tool

We report a case study in which conceptual design was applied to create a user interface of an innovative software tool. The Session Directory Tool (sdr) allows users to set up and participate in real-time interactive multimedia events on the Internet. To make this functionality available to users who are not familiar with the underlying network technology and videoconferencing, we identified a metaphor which could be extended into a design model (Electronic TV Listings Guide), and communicated this model through linguistic and structural features of the user interface. Evaluation results indicate that this effort was largely successful: new users handled sdr competently after a short training session and 5 days' practise, and articulated their knowledge of the tool in terms related to the design model. The case study demonstrates the potential of conceptual design, integrated with tangible HCI design techniques, for developing user interfaces to innovative technology. Keywords conce..

The Information Architecture of Behavior Change Websites

The extraordinary growth in Internet use offers researchers important new opportunities to identify and test new ways to deliver effective behavior change programs. The information architecture (IA)—the structure of website information—is an important but often overlooked factor to consider when adapting behavioral strategies developed in office-based settings for Web delivery. Using examples and relevant perspectives from multiple disciplines, we describe a continuum of website IA designs ranging from a matrix design to the tunnel design. The free-form matrix IA design allows users free rein to use multiple hyperlinks to explore available content according to their idiosyncratic interests. The more directive tunnel IA design (commonly used in e-learning courses) guides users step-by-step through a series of Web pages that are arranged in a particular order to improve the chances of achieving a goal that is measurable and consistent. Other IA designs are also discussed, including hierarchical IA and hybrid IA designs. In the hierarchical IA design, program content is arranged in a top-down manner, which helps the user find content of interest. The more complex hybrid IA design incorporates some combination of components that use matrix, tunnel, and/or hierarchical IA designs. Each of these IA designs is discussed in terms of usability, participant engagement, and program tailoring, as well as how they might best be matched with different behavior change goals (using Web-based smoking cessation interventions as examples). Our presentation underscores the role of considering and clearly reporting the use of IA designs when creating effective Web-based interventions. We also encourage the adoption of a multidisciplinary perspective as we move towards a more mature view of Internet intervention research