Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
10.8.2.3
Experiments with several users
We have also studied the behavior of this installation when several users
simultaneously searched for their respective platforms. Three users each had to
search for a different direction, corresponding to a departing train on one of five
platforms. We started by carrying out a control experiment in which the screens
were static, and only displayed the destination of the next train to arrive at their
platform. The results are given in Table 10.6.
Subject
Start
Dst
Movements
L
U
L
O
R
1 → D, D → E, E
, E → D, D → C,
C → B, B → A
a
1
A
7
4
1.75
b
1
B
1 → D, D → C, C → B
3
3
1.00
A → D, D → C, C → B, B → A, A
,
A → B, B → C, C → D, D → E
c
1
E
9
2
4.50
Table 10.6.
Results of the direction search experiment including
several users with the help of static screens
The average relative length for this experiment was 2.42, which once again
shows that the journeys taken were less than optimal. Thus, subjects b and c went in
the wrong direction from the offset. We then began the experiment again in dynamic
mode. The results are given in Table 10.7.
Subject
Start
Dst
Movements
L
U
L
O
R
a
1
A
1 → D, D → C, C → B, B → A
4
4
1.0
b
1
E
1 → D, D → E
2
2
1.0
c
1
B
1 → D, D → C, C → B
3
3
1.0
Table 10.7.
Results of the direction search experiment by
several users with the help of dynamic screens
In this case, all the journeys are optimal. Thus, even when several users are
present, the use of PRIAM to provide users with dynamic and personalized
information enables them to save precious time when they are on the move.
10.8.2.4.
Implementation notes
The implementation followed the same principles as the flight search
experiment. We have used the following agents:
- an informative agent tasked with providing each user with the semantic unit
corresponding to their destination;
