Information Technology Reference
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- An information agent tasked with providing information to different users.
Like all other PRIAM agents, this agent had a constructor capable of creating an
instance based on a series of attribute-value pairs. In the experiment, this agent read
an XML file describing the informational content to be used. This information agent
provided its semantic units to all known user agents: its space of influence was
therefore equal to the usage space of the system.
- The potential users were simply represented each by one of PRIAM's standard
user agents. Eight of these agents were therefore instantiated.
- A presenter agent capable of displaying information. We used a presentation
device adapted to the presentation of tabbed data, called DisplayPanel .
We also defined a class of semantic units meant to represent flight information.
These semantic units were capable of generating a practical content intended for a
textual presentation device, for example the DisplayPanel . In order for the user
agents to detect the proximity of the screen, we created a localization service
adapted to our badge system. As soon as the infrared receiver detected a badge in
proximity, the agents corresponding the screen and to the user in question received a
proximity notification.
10.8.2. Experiment: “finding one's way in a station”
The previous experiment demonstrated the benefit of our system in the search
for an information item in a list, including several users simultaneously. We are now
looking to evaluate how it can constitute an aid during the search for a direction. As
an example, we use the typical configuration of a train station; see Figure 10.14. A
reception hall enables access to an underground pass (or a footbridge), which in turn
gives access to different platforms via the intermediary of stairs. In the reception
hall, a general display panel indicates the departure times and platforms of all trains.
Moreover, at each staircase, a monitor is situated in the underground passage: it
recalls the list of departing trains on the corresponding platform.
This organization can seem fairly complete, and perfectly able to guide the
traveler. For example, when a user arrives in a train station, he starts by consulting
the general display panel, which gives him his platform number. He can then use the
underground passage. At the staircase that leads to its platform, a monitor confirms
his destination. However, this schema does not take into account travelers in transit.
Indeed the latter get off the train on one of the many platforms and must head for
another platform. Without additional information, they must therefore either:
- go to the hall, consult the general display panel, and then once again take the
underground passage to go to their platform of destination;
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