AI Support for Building Cognitive Models

Cognitive modeling techniques provide a way of evaluating user interface designs, based on what is known about human cognitive strengths and limitations. Cognitive modelers face a tradeoff, however: more detailed models require disproportionately more time and effort to develop than coarser models. In this paper we describe a system, G2A, that automatically produces translations from abstract GOMS models into more detailed ACT-R models. G2A demonstrates how even simple AI techniques can facilitate the construction of cognitive models and suggests new directions for improving modeling tools.

[1]  Allen Newell,et al.  The psychology of human-computer interaction , 1983 .

[2]  David E. Kieras,et al.  The GOMS family of user interface analysis techniques: comparison and contrast , 1996, TCHI.

[3]  Frank J. Lee,et al.  Simple cognitive modeling in a complex cognitive architecture , 2003, CHI '03.

[4]  Michael E. Atwood,et al.  Project Ernestine: Validating a GOMS Analysis for Predicting and Explaining Real-World Task Performance , 1993, Hum. Comput. Interact..

[5]  David E. Kieras,et al.  A Guide to GOMS Model Usability Evaluation using GOMSL and GLEAN4 , 1999 .

[6]  Richard W. Hamming,et al.  Numerical methods for scientists and engineers (2nd ed.) , 1986 .

[7]  Frank E. Ritter,et al.  Specifying ACT-R models of user interaction with a GOMS language , 2005, Cognitive Systems Research.

[8]  T. Macgrath.  W. A. C. , 1874 .

[9]  Frank E. Ritter,et al.  Techniques for Modeling Human Performance in Synthetic Environments: A Supplementary Review , 2003 .

[10]  Kenneth R. Koedinger,et al.  Predictive human performance modeling made easy , 2004, CHI.

[11]  Frank E. Ritter,et al.  Automated GOMS-to-ACT-R model generation (Best applied paper) , 2004, ICCM.

[12]  C. Lebiere,et al.  The Atomic Components of Thought , 1998 .

[13]  Richard L. Lewis,et al.  Information-Requirements Grammar: A Theory of the Structure of Competence for Interaction , 2005 .

[14]  Frank E. Ritter,et al.  High-level Behavior Representation Languages Revisited , 2006 .

[15]  Frank E. Ritter,et al.  Model-based evaluation of cell phone menu interaction , 2004, CHI '04.