TITLE: A Formal Systems Approach to the Definition and Representation of Activity Context for Machine Capture and Use
SPEAKER: Dr. Dan Diaper  (DDD SYSTEMS)

ABSTRACT:

Representing context information associated with people and digital devices performing activities is presented using a formal systems model based on a legal but simplified version of set theory. A five set Venn diagram, the PentaVenn diagram, allows analysts to work using a graphical logic rather than with equations. Model symmetry is shown to facilitate identifying different types of context, tangible and intangible.

Communication bad spots on a commuter’s train journey provide an example of context for the activities of a work system (user and devices) attempting to transfer large volumes of data. The simplified set theoretic based approach illustrates how the activities, their context, and device context capture can start to be analyzed. It is argued that context is not significantly harder to model than other, human aspects in a general systems analysis.

The main presentation will consist of a 17 minute animated PowerPoint lecture with embedded video.  This will be followed by questions and discussion that should focus on the logical technique, the analyses, and how the overall approach might be exploited in other applications, in AI and, for example, in HCI and CSCW.

The two papers on which the seminar is based, and which should be read in this order, are:

Diaper, D. (2011) Defining and Representing Activity Context for Systems Analysis. in Activity Context Representation: Techniques and Languages. 8-13. AAAI Press. From the  workshop at the 25th. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence conference, San Francisco.

Diaper, D. (2011) A Formal Systems Approach to Machine Capture, Representation and Use of Activity Context. in Activity Context Representation: Techniques and Languages. 14-19. AAAI Press. From the workshop at the 25th. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence conference, San Francisco.