User interfaces with semi-formal representations: a study of designing argumentation structures

When designing mixed-initiative systems, full formalization of all potentially relevant knowledge may not be cost-effective or practical. This paper motivates the need for semi-formal representations that combine machine-processable structures with free text statements, and discusses the need to design them in a way that makes the free text more amenable to automated structuring and processing. Our work is done in the context of argumentation systems, and has explored a range of tradeoffs in combining informal free-text statements with formal connectors. The paper compares alternative argument representations which combine structured argument connectors with free text. We discuss merits of the systems based on a variety of analysis structures that we have collected from Web users to date. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: User

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: IUI
• Authors: Timothy Chklovski, Varun Ratnakar, Yolanda Gil
• Keywords: Free Text, Free Text Statements, IUI 2005, Software Engineering, Structured Argument Connectors