Ebook: CSCW and Artificial Intelligence

Computing, despite the relative brevity of its history, has already evolved into a subject in which a fairly large number of subdisciplines can be identified. Moreover, there has been a noticeable tendency for the different branches of the subject each to develop its own intellectual culture, tradition and momentum. This is not, of course, to suggest that any individ­ ual subdiscipline has become a watertight compartment or that developments in one branch of the subject have tended to take place in total isolation from developments in other related areas. Nevertheless, it does mean that a deliberate effort is required in order to bring different subdisciplines together in a fruitful and beneficial manner. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Supported Coopera­ tive Work (CSCW) jointly constitute a good example of two branches of computing that have emerged separately and given rise to largely distinct research communities and initiatives. On the one hand, the history of AI can be traced back to the 1950s, the term II Artificial Intelligence" being generally attributed to John McCarthy, who first used it in print in 1956. "Computer Supported Cooperative Work", on the other hand, is a term of more recent coinage, having'been devised by Irene Greif and Paul Cashman in 1984.

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This book is concerned with the application of concepts and techniques from AI to the design and implementation of computing systems in which the principle of cooperation is of central significance.
Drawing upon important recent developments in AI, the authors deal with cooperative activity on the level of both software and user interaction. One of the key features of the book is its multidisciplinarity - technological, organizational, psychological, linguistic and semiotic perspectives are all represented. It covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of specific issues, as well as general topics such as frameworks, models, and architectures. CSCW andArtificial Intelligence presents extended treatments of many core topics in this important area. It provides a rich source of ideas for future work, and also highlights the enormous potential for growth within CSCW and AI.

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This book is concerned with the application of concepts and techniques from AI to the design and implementation of computing systems in which the principle of cooperation is of central significance.
Drawing upon important recent developments in AI, the authors deal with cooperative activity on the level of both software and user interaction. One of the key features of the book is its multidisciplinarity - technological, organizational, psychological, linguistic and semiotic perspectives are all represented. It covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of specific issues, as well as general topics such as frameworks, models, and architectures. CSCW andArtificial Intelligence presents extended treatments of many core topics in this important area. It provides a rich source of ideas for future work, and also highlights the enormous potential for growth within CSCW and AI.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Towards a Cooperative Software Agent....Pages 1-11
A Framework for Negotiation....Pages 13-22
Environments for Cooperating Agents: Designing the Interface as Medium....Pages 23-37
Domain Knowledge Agents for Information Retrieval....Pages 39-46
Autonomous Agents in the Support of Cooperative Authorship....Pages 47-65
Agency within CSCW: Towards the Development of Active Cooperative Working Environments....Pages 67-95
A Model for Supporting Interacting Knowledge Sources....Pages 97-104
A Functional Model of Interacting Systems: A Semiotic Approach....Pages 105-125
Supporting Human Experts’ Collaborative Work: Modelling Organizational Context Knowledge in Cooperative Information Systems....Pages 127-139
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Supported Cooperative Working in International Contexts....Pages 141-159
On the Definition and Desirability of Autonomous User Agents in CSCW....Pages 161-173
Back Matter....Pages 175-192

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This book is concerned with the application of concepts and techniques from AI to the design and implementation of computing systems in which the principle of cooperation is of central significance.
Drawing upon important recent developments in AI, the authors deal with cooperative activity on the level of both software and user interaction. One of the key features of the book is its multidisciplinarity - technological, organizational, psychological, linguistic and semiotic perspectives are all represented. It covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of specific issues, as well as general topics such as frameworks, models, and architectures. CSCW andArtificial Intelligence presents extended treatments of many core topics in this important area. It provides a rich source of ideas for future work, and also highlights the enormous potential for growth within CSCW and AI.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Towards a Cooperative Software Agent....Pages 1-11
A Framework for Negotiation....Pages 13-22
Environments for Cooperating Agents: Designing the Interface as Medium....Pages 23-37
Domain Knowledge Agents for Information Retrieval....Pages 39-46
Autonomous Agents in the Support of Cooperative Authorship....Pages 47-65
Agency within CSCW: Towards the Development of Active Cooperative Working Environments....Pages 67-95
A Model for Supporting Interacting Knowledge Sources....Pages 97-104
A Functional Model of Interacting Systems: A Semiotic Approach....Pages 105-125
Supporting Human Experts’ Collaborative Work: Modelling Organizational Context Knowledge in Cooperative Information Systems....Pages 127-139
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Supported Cooperative Working in International Contexts....Pages 141-159
On the Definition and Desirability of Autonomous User Agents in CSCW....Pages 161-173
Back Matter....Pages 175-192
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