Multimedia intelligent documentation: Metadoc V

The fint efforts at putting tdmical documentation online did nothing more than replicate the book model online. Subsequent attempts with greater rescmnxs and imagination added passive reading tools such as graphical browsers, fisheye views and adaptive indexes. Reading paper d ocuments de mands that the reader adapt to the level of information presented, too little detail IW@ms another text to be consulted, too much information requirea the reader to skim. A better solution is for the document to adapt to the reader by applying/borrowing technology from artificial intelligence and intelligent tutoring systems [1]. Two systems that incorporate Permission to copy without fee alt or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made ordistributedfor directcommeraal advantage,theACM copyrightnoticeand the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copyingia bypermkaion of the Aaaixiation fcrComputing Machinery. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires a fee and/or apedfic permission. @1993ACM 0-89791-630-1/93/0010/0021 $1.s0 theadaptiveappoachtmMetaDoc [21andHyperflex [3], each attempts to vary tlw content and detail of inforrnationpresented to a reader amordingto his or her ability and mquimments. Both systems proved successful in semi-commercial and exhaustive experimentation. MetaDocVextendsthe text and graphicsbased user modeling capabilities of MetaDoc to include video based training. This is a natural and appropriate extension to current computer based information and training. MetaDocV isaninstantiationoftheMetaInfommtion project architecture that defines computer based information as a first class object in the interaction process.