bhs@mbunix.mitre.org (Beverly H. Sobelman) (12/20/88)
I am in the unfortunate position of having to defend the project for
which I am task leader, thanks to upcoming scrutiny by our Air Force
sponsors. Our work involves transitioning a natural language
database/expert system interface (built by another department) to a
"real world" application, namely a mission-planning expert system
which currently has a menu-driven interface with a simple ATN parser
for certain nl commands.
One of our concerns for the project review is that we may need to
convince them that natural language is a worthwhile thing to have in
the first place. Since Lt. Cols. generally prefer numbers over
verbage, we are searching for data supporting the use of natural
language (either in place of or in conjunction with other methods of
interaction). Has anyone studied whether users learn the system
faster, extract information more easily, etc., when natural language
capabilities are provided? (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the
findings are not to the contrary...if so, does anybody out there need
a couple of AI hackers?!?!?).
Thanks much,
Bev Sobelman
EMail: bhs@mbunix.mitre.org OR bhs@mitre-bedford.arpa
USMail: MS A-155
MITRE Corp.
Burlington Rd., Bedford. MA, 01730
Phone: 617-271-7754