Using Synchronic and Diachronic Relations for Summarizing Multiple Documents Describing Evolving Events

In this paper we present a fresh look at the problem of summarizing evolving events from multiple sources. After a discussion concerning the nature of evolving events we introduce a distinction between linearly and non-linearly evolving events. We present then a general methodology for the automatic creation of summaries from evolving events. At its heart lie the notions of Synchronic and Diachronic cross-document Relations (SDRs), whose aim is the identification of similarities and differences between sources, from a synchronical and diachronical perspective. SDRs do not connect documents or textual elements found therein, but structures one might call messages. Applying this methodology will yield a set of messages and relations, SDRs, connecting them, that is a graph which we call grid. We will show how such a grid can be considered as the starting point of a Natural Language Generation System. The methodology is evaluated in two case-studies, one for linearly evolving events (descriptions of football matches) and another one for non-linearly evolving events (terrorist incidents involving hostages). In both cases we evaluate the results produced by our computational systems.Comment: 45 pages, 6 figures. To appear in the Journal of Intelligent Information System

Supporting Learner's Needs with an Ontology-Based Bayesian Network

This paper presents a study of MENTOR, a Web Adaptive Educational Environment (WBES), where the learner’s needs and preferences are diagnosed using an Ontology-based Bayesian Network approach during the learning process. Firstly, the proposed method uses an OWL Ontology to store the Affective Knowledge regarding the learner. Then, this Ontology is extended appropriately to deal with uncertainty so that a Bayesian Network (BN) can be constructed from it. Finally, using the derived BN we can make inferences and reasoning on the learner’s individual needs. In this way we form a schema where the uncertain Affective Information (AfI) can be represented efficiently and exploited properly in order to maintain the efforts of a learner. Therefore, based on this model we can detect the learner’s affective model and to support his efforts during the learning process by suggesting the proper pedagogical guidance

A Context-Based Adaptive Visualization Environment

Digital libraries and historical archives are increasingly employing visualization systems to facilitate the information retrieval and knowledge extraction tasks of their users. Typically, each organization employs a single visualization system, which may not suit best the needs of certain user groups, specific tasks, or properties of document collections to be visualized. In this paper we present a context-based adaptive visualization environment, which embeds a set of visualization methods into a visualization library, from which the most appropriate one is selected for presenting information to the user. Methods are selected by examining parameters related to the user profile, system configuration and the set of data to be visualized, and employing a set of rules to assess the suitability of each method. The presented environment additionally monitors user behavior and preferences to adapt the visualization method selection criteria. 1

Towards the Development of Effective and Flexible Information Systems

The development of Information Systems which are effective (i.e. satisfy users' needs) and flexible enough to incorporate future changes of user requirements basically depends on the importance given to the requirements analysis stage and to the techniques employed for their development This paper presents a new approach to requirements analysis through an environment called VENUS. The VENUS environment provides a set of tools to support the requirements capture and analysis process so that design and development is more effective and flexible. The construction of user requirements starts by first constructing an Entity-Relationship Model which is then transformed to an Object-oriented Rule-based Model (ORM) where rules are used for the definition of the behaviour of each object class. ORM is then mapped to a graphical Petri-net based model and is validated by employing graphical animation and exploiting formal properties of the underlying Petri-net formalism

Abstract A TOUR ADVISORY SYSTEM USING A LOGIC PROGRAMMING APPROACH

called PETINA, which is a system aiming at constructing tours that satisfy conswaints specified by tourists. The sys-tem consults a database which contains information about activities, events and sites that refer to Greece. PETINA takes as input user wishes about tour generation expressed as constraints over visits ' properties and its output is tours satisfying these conslraints. The user wishes may be stated using either a formal language or a graphical interface. The method of computation applies to any problem domain, in case the problem involves combinatorial searching under some kinds of constraints that can be classified into some well defined categories. Although a logic programming approach is suitable and valuable for the formulation of combinatorial search problems, conventional Prolog sys-tems fail to cope with them efficiently. PETINA has been implemented in the ElipSys language, which is a parallel logic programming system extended with various powerful mechanisms to allow efficient execution. Most of the Elip-Sys " features were proved to be indispensable for handling the complexity of the encountered problems. Keywords combinatorial search, tour construction, parallel logic pro-gramming, constraint satisfaction, data driven computatio

TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE AND FLEXIBLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

The development of Information Systems which are effective (i.e. satisfy users ' needs) and flexible enough to incorporate future changes of user requirements basically depends on the importance given to the requirements analysis stage and to the techniques employed for their development This paper presents a new approach to requirements analysis through an environment called VENUS. The VENUS environment provides a set of tools to support the requirements capture and analysis process so that design and development is more effective and flexible. The construction of user requirements starts by first constructing an Entity-Relationship Model which is then transformed to an Object-oriented Rule-based Model (ORM) where rules are used for the definition of the behaviour of each object class. ORM is then mapped to a graphical Petri-net based model and is validated by employing graphical animation and exploiting formal properties of the underlying Petri-net formalism

MENTORing Affectively the Student to Enhance his Learning

In this paper a Web-Based Adaptive Educational System to support personalized distance learning, which is named MENTOR is presented The main purpose of MENTOR is to support learner’s actions during the learning process in an affective way. To achieve this MENTOR incorporates an affective module which enhances the traditional learning practices with an affective dimension. The affective module makes use of an ontological approach in combination with the Bayesian Network model in order to provide learner with the properly affective guidance. In this way the foremost goal of MENTOR, which is to supply the learner with a personalized and emotional awareness learning environment, is achieved