The advisor agent : A model for the dynamic integration of navigation information within an open hypermedia system
The advisor agent : A model for the dynamic integration of navigation information within an open hypermedia system
The disorienting effect caused by reading information that has been placed within a non-linear space such as that provided by an open hypermedia system is described. This is followed by a discussion on the roles of navigation tools as a means to reducing this disorientation by providing both temporal and spatial contexts for the user. Two sets of navigation tools have been implemented, for the Microcosm open hypermedia system. The first is a set of tools based on those found within other hypermedia systems, but that have been adapted to take advantage of the facilities offered by the Microcosm open hypermedia system. The second set consists of novel tools that have been designed and implemented to handle some of the features specific to the Microcosm system. Both sets of tools are designed to exist within the architecture provided by the current partitioned communication model supported by the Microcosm system. However, this model poses certain difficulties for both the implementors and users of these tools. A new, direct communication model, for Microcosm, has been designed and implemented to overcome these problems. The new communication model allowed for the introduction of new processes, based upon the agent programming paradigm, into the Microcosm system. Such agents can be used for three major areas within hypermedia: navigation, maintenance and information monitoring. All three areas are discussed and an implementation for an agent, the advisor agent, in the context of navigation is described. Finally, the implementation of such an agent within an open hypermedia system highlights the need for both agent and hypermedia functionality to be provided by the operating system as an environment wide service. The work described within this thesis provides a base for research into this area.
University of Southampton
Wilkins, Robert J.
87bcce10-ef07-4575-86c1-e7d7efc72810
29 November 1994
Wilkins, Robert J.
87bcce10-ef07-4575-86c1-e7d7efc72810
Hall, Wendy
11f7f8db-854c-4481-b1ae-721a51d8790c
Wilkins, Robert J.
(1994)
The advisor agent : A model for the dynamic integration of navigation information within an open hypermedia system.
Doctoral Thesis, 247pp.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The disorienting effect caused by reading information that has been placed within a non-linear space such as that provided by an open hypermedia system is described. This is followed by a discussion on the roles of navigation tools as a means to reducing this disorientation by providing both temporal and spatial contexts for the user. Two sets of navigation tools have been implemented, for the Microcosm open hypermedia system. The first is a set of tools based on those found within other hypermedia systems, but that have been adapted to take advantage of the facilities offered by the Microcosm open hypermedia system. The second set consists of novel tools that have been designed and implemented to handle some of the features specific to the Microcosm system. Both sets of tools are designed to exist within the architecture provided by the current partitioned communication model supported by the Microcosm system. However, this model poses certain difficulties for both the implementors and users of these tools. A new, direct communication model, for Microcosm, has been designed and implemented to overcome these problems. The new communication model allowed for the introduction of new processes, based upon the agent programming paradigm, into the Microcosm system. Such agents can be used for three major areas within hypermedia: navigation, maintenance and information monitoring. All three areas are discussed and an implementation for an agent, the advisor agent, in the context of navigation is described. Finally, the implementation of such an agent within an open hypermedia system highlights the need for both agent and hypermedia functionality to be provided by the operating system as an environment wide service. The work described within this thesis provides a base for research into this area.
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Wilkins
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Published date: 29 November 1994
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Local EPrints ID: 437666
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/437666
PURE UUID: 4b99ae30-af43-42a2-ae3f-db9d05381705
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Date deposited: 10 Feb 2020 17:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:32
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Author:
Robert J. Wilkins
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