[ACT-R-users] Proposal: CommonReality OpenGroup

[Anthony M. Harrison]

   As modelers we are increasingly finding ourselves attempting to 
integrate our models with other devices that either interact with or 
simulate the real world. I've been trying to make this process easier 
on myself. However, I've quickly come to realize that this interfacing 
problem is one faced by all modelers regardless of architecture. In my 
conversations with the robotics folks at NRL, it's also become clear 
that they face a similar problem. As such, I'm proposing the formation 
of the CommonReality OpenGroup.
   What is it? It is a group that will work towards creating a general 
abstraction layer for architectures and devices to permit better 
interoperability across architectures, devices, hardware, and software. 
Participation is open to anyone interested. The goal is to produce 
reference implementations of this abstraction layer in all the primary 
modeling languages (not architectures, since this should be 
architecturally agnostic). These reference implementations can then be 
used by architecture and device developers to ensure reliable 
interactions.

   I have posted a power point presentation on the general rationale 
behind the open group as well as a prototype description to get people 
thinking and talking.

   http://sourceforge.net/projects/commonreality/

   I ask that anyone and everyone who thinks they have a stake in this 
to participate. It will only work if we have a wide array of 
participants from numerous fields.

   This message is being cross-posted to the Soar and ACT-R lists. If 
you are aware of others who would be interested, please forward 
accordingly.

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     "The unexamined life isn't worth living;
          however, the over-examined life isn't living."

     Anthony M. Harrison, M.S.
     Research Assistant
     Learning Research & Development Center
     University of Pittsburgh

     anh23 at pitt.edu
     http://simon.lrdc.pitt.edu/~harrison/
     Voice: (412) 648-1109
     Fax:   (412) 624-7439

     LRDC, Rm 823
     3939 O'Hara St.
     Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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