"Watch What I Do" Chapter 25
Chapter
25
Characterizing PBD Systems
Allen Cypher,
David S. Kosbie
and
David Maulsby
Introduction
In the introduction to this book, we presented to the reader the idea of
Programming by Demonstration, indicating what PBD is and why it
is desirable. In this chapter, we take the discussion further, considering
how a PBD system is composed. That is, we lay out the various salient
dimensions that distinguish PBD systems. The purpose of this is two-fold.
First, readers can use this chapter as a framework for evaluating and comparing
systems. Second, designers can use this chapter as a model for presenting their
systems and as a means of delineating how their systems contribute to the
field. The summary sheets located at the end of each chapter in Section I are
based on this characterization.
We characterize PBD systems along the following dimensions:
- Uses and Users What is the application domain and who are the
users?
- User Interaction How does the user interact with the PBD system to
create, use, and modify programs?
- Inference Given the inherent ambiguity in inferring a generalized
procedure from a limited set of examples, how does the PBD system select an
interpretation for the user's demonstration?
- Knowledge What information can the system use in making
inferences?
The remaining sections of this chapter explain these dimensions
in detail.
Summary Sheets
The summary sheets that can be found at the end of each chapter in Section I
are based on the characterization presented in this chapter. Listed on the next
page are all of the categories used in the summary sheet. To conserve space,
individual systems omit headings if they do not have a specific comment about
that area.
System Summary
Uses and Users
Application domain:
Tasks within the domain:
Intended users:
User Interaction
How does the user create, execute and modify programs?
Feedback about capabilities and inferences:
Inference
Inferencing:
Types of examples:
Program constructs:
Knowledge
Types and sources of information:
Implementation
Machine, language, size:
Notable Features
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