From Geek to Sleek: Integrating Task Learning Tools to Support End Users in Real-World Applications

Authors

Aaron Spaulding, Jim Blythe, Will Haines, Melinda Gervasio


Artificial Intelligence Center
SRI International
333 Ravenswood Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
{spaulding, haines, gervasio}@ai.sri.com


USC Information Sciences Institute
4676 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
blythe@isi.edu

Summary
These researches combined forces to create ITL, an integrated task learning system.  Basically it aims to provide a more user friendly script creation for the average end user.  They wanted to make something that was not nit-picky as macro recorders as well.

They integrated their technology with two currently existing military software applications called LAPDOG and Tailor.  Initial versions were disliked by users and the product was updated to adjust to their suggestions.In addition to letting users specify a particular set of scripted steps, the program let the users edit, copy, and paste scripts as well. In the end, they found that their product does in fact increase productivity because it automates repetitive tasks for the users.

Discussion
My favorite line was "this format was immediately derided as 'a bunch of geek [stuff]' by our users". I may have actually chuckled out loud a little to see those brackets in a scholarly paper.  Also, considering the simplicity of the study's topic I understand why this was labeled under the "short" papers list.