cfry@watdcsu.UUCP (01/12/87)
Constraints on Text Generation by Kathleen McKeown from Department of Computer Science Columbia University New York, N.Y. Abstract In order for a system to generate text, it must be able to deter- mine what information to communicate, when to say what, and which words and syntactic constructions best express its intent. In this talk, I will show how information about the current user of the system, discourse strategies, and focus of attention can be used as constraints on these decisions. This work will be dis- cussed within the context of two different applications: 1) the generation of explanations as part of an expert system that ad- vises students on course selection and 2) the generation of spa- tial descriptions as part of a question-answering system contain- ing information about physical objects. DATE: Wednesday, January 21, 1987 TIME: 3:30 p.m. PLACE: MC 5158 Everyone is welcome. Refreshments served.