This paper presents an approach to creating flexible general-logic representations from language for use in high-level reasoning tasks in cognitive modeling.  These representations are grounded in a large-scale ontology and emphasize the need for semantic breadth at the cost of syntactic breadth.  The task-independent interpretation process allows task-specific pragmatics to guide the interpretation process. In the context of a particular cognitive model, we discuss our use of limited abduction for interpretation and show results of its performance.

We introduce a method to automatically improve character models for a handwritten script without the use of transcriptions and using a minimum of document specific training data. We show that we can use searches for the words in a dictionary to identify portions of the document whose transcriptions are unambiguous. Using templates extracted from those regions, we retrain our character prediction model to drastically improve our search retrieval performance for words in the document.

We introduce a method to automatically improve character models for a handwritten script without the use of transcriptions and using a minimum of document specific training data. We show that we can use searches for the words in a dictionary to identify portions of the document whose transcriptions are unambiguous. Using templates extracted from those regions, we retrain our character prediction model to drastically improve our search retrieval performance for words in the document.

This article describes the virtual humans developed as part of the Mission Rehearsal Exercise project, a virtual reality-based training system. This project is an ambitious exercise in integration, both in the sense of integrating technology with entertainment industry content, but also in that we have joined a number of component technologies that have not been integrated before. This integration has not only raised new research issues, but it has also suggested some new approaches to difficult problems. We describe the key capabilities of the virtual humans, including task representation and reasoning, natural language dialogue, and emotion reasoning, and show how these capabilities are integrated to provide more human-level intelligence than would otherwise be possible.

This article describes the virtual humans developed as part of the Mission Rehearsal Exercise project, a virtual reality-based training system. This project is an ambitious exercise in integration, both in the sense of integrating technology with entertainment industry content, but also in that we have joined a number of component technologies that have not been integrated before. This integration has not only raised new research issues, but it has also suggested some new approaches to difficult problems. We describe the key capabilities of the virtual humans, including task representation and reasoning, natural language dialogue, and emotion reasoning, and show how these capabilities are integrated to provide more human-level intelligence than would otherwise be possible.

In computational cognitive modeling, we hypothesize internal mental processes of human cognitive activities and express such activities by computer programs. Such computational models often consist of many components and aspects. Claims are often made that certain aspects play a key role in modeling, but such claims are sometimes not well justified or explored. We then discuss, in principle, systematic ways of identifying the source of power in models.

In computational cognitive modeling, we hypothesize internal mental processes of human cognitive activities and express such activities by computer programs. Such computational models often consist of many components and aspects. Claims are often made that certain aspects play a key role in modeling, but such claims are sometimes not well justified or explored. In this article, we first review some fundamental distinctions and issues in computational modeling. We then discuss, in principle, systematic ways of identifying the source of power in models.

Allen Newell was one of the founders and truly great scientists of AI. His contributions included foundational concepts and ground-breaking systems. His career was defined by the pursuit of a single, fundamental issue: the nature of the human mind. This article traces his pursuit from his early work on search and list processing in systems such as the LOGIC THEORIST and the GENERAL PROBLEM SOLVER; through his work on problem spaces, human problem solving, and production systems; through his final work on unified theories of cognition and SOAR.

This article discusses building a computable design process model, which is a prerequisite for realizing intelligent computer-aided design systems. First, we introduce general design theory, from which a descriptive model of design processes is derived. Second, we show a cognitive design process model obtained by observing design processes using a protocol analysis method. In the computable model, a design process is regarded as an iterative logical process realized by abduction, deduction, and circumscription.

This article discusses building a computable design process model, which is a prerequisite for realizing intelligent computer-aided design systems. First, we introduce general design theory, from which a descriptive model of design processes is derived. In this model, the concept of metamodels plays a crucial role in describing the evolutionary nature of design. Second, we show a cognitive design process model obtained by observing design processes using a protocol analysis method. We then discuss a computable model that can explain most parts of the cognitive model and also interpret the descriptive model. In the computable model, a design process is regarded as an iterative logical process realized by abduction, deduction, and circumscription. We implemented a design simulator that can trace design processes in which design specifications and design solutions are gradually revised as the design proceeds.