GC: n
CT: To understand the notion of intelligent interfaces, we can start by a discussion of what cannot be seen as a definition of intelligent interfaces.
Firstly, we can note two things: An “intelligent system” does not necessarily have an intelligent interface, and neither is a well-designed interface necessarily intelligent.
Why is an “intelligent system” not an intelligent interface? The reason is that the intelligence of an “intelligent system” does not necessarily manifest itself in a user interface. The term “intelligent system” is as difficult to define as the term “intelligent interface“, but we can consider the more limited field of knowledge-based systems, which definitely constitute a kind of intelligent systems. Knowledge-based systems are constructed to reason about and act upon a vast source of expertise in some limited field of application. The system may take its input from any sources such as human users or automatic sensors, and the output may equally well be actions in an automatic control loop or advice to a human user. The first generation expert systems were characterised by a very mechanical and system-controlled dialogue (Berry and D. E. Broadbent 1986). Developing intelligent interfaces to knowledge-based systems is by no means an easy task, and can be considered a research area of its own. A specific issue here is the construction of explanations, that motivate the system’s advice to the user (Southwick 1989).
S: https://www.sics.se/~annika/papers/intint.html (last access: 22 December 2014)
N: 1. intelligent (adj): c.1500, a back-formation from intelligence or else from Latin intelligentem (nominative intelligens), present participle of intelligere, earlier intellegere (see intelligence). Intelligent design, as a name for an alternative to atheistic cosmology and the theory of evolution, is from 1999. Related: Intelligently.
interface (n): 1882 (n.), 1967 (v.), from inter- (Latin inter (prep., adv.) “among, between, betwixt, in the midst of,” from PIE enter “between, among”) + face (c.1300, “the human face, a face; facial appearance or expression; likeness, image,” from Old French face “face, countenance, look, appearance” (12c.), from Vulgar Latin facia (source also of Italian faccia), from Latin facies “appearance, form, figure,” and secondarily “visage, countenance,” which probably is literally “form imposed on something” and related to facere “to make”). Related: Interfaced; interfacing.
2. The interface can be intelligent about a variety of things. One of these is system functionality. The interface might have some knowledge of how to get around the system, or tasks a user would want to do. With this information, the system can present its interface in an intelligent manner, making navigation and operation more intuitive to the user.
Interfaces can be intelligent about the user. Through the use of a user model, the system can tailor communication (both input and output) to the user. Examples of tailored communications include methods of communicating (voice? visual? tactile?) and way of presenting data (bar graph? pie chart? line graph?).
The interface can also be sensitive to the wants and needs of the user.
3. There is a distinction between programs with intelligent interfaces, and programs which are intelligent and have interfaces. A program which has an intelligent interface uses intelligent techniques in working with the user. It might use user models, or it might be knowledgable about system functionality, or it might compensate or help its user. An intelligent program may produce information which is intelligent, but the interface itself might not contain any intelligence.
4. The definition of intelligent interfaces is as ambiguous as the definition of Artificial Intelligence. However, it is possible both to scope the area of research for Intelligent Interfaces, and to find good reasons to pursue this research area. The research area is inherently cross-disciplinary: we must both strive to make technological advancements in interface generation, and develop novel interaction principles aimed to perfect the human – computer dialogue.
S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=intelligent&searchmode=none; http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=interface&searchmode=none (last access: 22 December 2014). 2 & 3. http://web.cs.wpi.edu/Research/airg/IntInt/intint-paper-intro.html (last access: 22 December 2014). 4. https://www.sics.se/~annika/papers/intint.html (last access: 22 December 2014).
SYN: intelligent user interface, intelligent man-machine interface, smart interface.
S: GDT
CR: artificial intelligence, computer science, man-machine interface, user interface.
