From rsun at rpi.edu  Mon Oct  4 12:27:02 2004
From: rsun at rpi.edu (Professor Ron Sun)
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 2004 12:27:02 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Cognitive Science Ph.D program at RPI
Message-ID: <416179D6.70702@rpi.edu>

 

I am looking for a few Ph.D students.
 

The Ph.D program of the Cognitive Science department at RPI is accepting
applications. Graduate assistantships and other forms of financial
support for graduate students are available.
 

Prospective graduate students with interests in Cognitive Science,
especially in  learning and skill acquisition and in the relationship
between cognition and sociality, are encouraged to apply.  Prospective
applicants should have background in computer science (the equivalent
of a BS in computer science), and have some prior exposure to 
psychology, artificial
intelligence, connectionist models (neural networks), multi-agent
systems, and other related areas.  Students with a Master's degree
already completed are preferred.
 

RPI is a top-tier research university.  This new CogSci department has
identified the Ph.D program and research as its primary missions. The
department is conducting  research in a number of areas:
cognitive modeling, human and machine learning, multi-agent interactions
and social simulation, neural networks and connectionist models,  human
and machine reasoning, cognitive engineering, and so on.
 

See the Web page below regarding my research:
   http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/~rsun
 

For the application procedure, see
   http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/
The application deadline is Jan.15, 2005.
 

If you decide to apply, follow the official procedure as outlined on
the Web page. Send me a short email (in plain text, ASCII) AFTER you
have completed the application.

-- 

===================================================================
Professor Ron Sun
Cognitive Science Department
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 Eighth Street, Carnegie 302A
Troy, NY 12180, USA

phone: 518-276-3409
fax:   518-276-3017
email: rsun at rpi.edu
web:   http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/~rsun
===================================================================




From Bej at cs.cmu.edu  Tue Oct  5 15:11:00 2004
From: Bej at cs.cmu.edu (Bonnie John)
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 15:11:00 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Help with typing
Message-ID: <p0601020cbd88a0bd55f0@[128.2.189.251]>

Folks,

We are trying to recreate old Keystroke-Level Models and replicate 
their match to human data using CogTool, a new tool that uses ACT-R 5 
as its underlying cognitive engine (with ACT-RPM 2.1.2 which may be a 
bit newer than what is currently packaged with ACT-R 5).

Has anyone validated how ACT-R 5 does transcription typing? Our times 
are not matching human data.

We are following the ACT-RPM motor module documentation, using 
press-key like it says to do for typing. But we keep getting an 
inter-keystroke time that averages about 0.5 sec, which is far slower 
than Card, Moran & Newell's estimate for touch typists (200 to 280 
msec depending on how skilled). Of course, our models are coming out 
way too slow to match human data.

Any suggestions?
Thanks, Bonnie



From db30 at andrew.cmu.edu  Tue Oct  5 16:15:15 2004
From: db30 at andrew.cmu.edu (Dan Bothell)
Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 16:15:15 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Help with typing
In-Reply-To: <p0601020cbd88a0bd55f0@[128.2.189.251]>
References: <p0601020cbd88a0bd55f0@[128.2.189.251]>
Message-ID: <DCD2348764A2B95BAA27DF4A@whatever.psy.cmu.edu>


--On Tuesday, October 05, 2004 3:11 PM -0400 Bonnie John <Bej at cs.cmu.edu> 
wrote:

>
> Folks,
>
> We are trying to recreate old Keystroke-Level Models and replicate their
> match to human data using CogTool, a new tool that uses ACT-R 5 as its
> underlying cognitive engine (with ACT-RPM 2.1.2 which may be a bit newer
> than what is currently packaged with ACT-R 5).
>
> Has anyone validated how ACT-R 5 does transcription typing? Our times are
> not matching human data.
>
> We are following the ACT-RPM motor module documentation, using press-key
> like it says to do for typing. But we keep getting an inter-keystroke
> time that averages about 0.5 sec, which is far slower than Card, Moran &
> Newell's estimate for touch typists (200 to 280 msec depending on how
> skilled). Of course, our models are coming out way too slow to match
> human data.
>

The current ACT-R 5 has RPM version 2.2, so it's actually newer than that,
but that shouldn't make a difference.

Press-key isn't really a "good" typist as indicated in the docs for the
motor module, "The press-key command is included primarily as a programming
convenience and does not represent an ACT-R theory of typing."  After
describing a learning mechanism which could be used to generate a theory of
typing it says, "Until then, press key should be able to handle most
normal typing assuming a fairly skilled typist."  So, at some level it's
not surprising that you can't use it to model expert performance.

However, since the thing that you're indicating is an issue is the inter-key
time I'd guess that you may be able to improve on that.  The question is
what are you using to check for the availability of the motor module?  If
you are testing the module's modality then there's room for improvement
because it can pipeline commands.  If you instead test that the preparation
is free you should be able to get things going as fast as possible.

As a quick test below is a model that uses press-key to type "the" as fast
as possible which has inter-key times of 300ms.  So, that may help some
if you aren't doing it already.

If that's not fast enough though, then I think you may need to look into
motor learning issues which just aren't handled with the current RPM, or
at least to add in what could be considered end results of such learning.
For example, a new motor style for "chords" which could prepare and initiate
multiple finger actions as a single unit, instead of the current press-key
style that only allows one finger to be in operation at a time.


Dan

;;; Quick and dirty model to press three keys using press-key as fast
;;; as it can.

(clearall)
(pm-reset)

(chunk-type goal key)
(add-dm (g isa goal key t))
(goal-focus g)

(p press-t
   =goal>
   isa goal
   key t
   =manual-state>
   isa module-state
   preparation free
   ==>
   +manual>
   isa press-key
   key "T"
   =goal>
   key h
   )

(p press-h
   =goal>
   isa goal
   key h
   =manual-state>
   isa module-state
   preparation free
   ==>
   +manual>
   isa press-key
   key "H"
   =goal>
   key e
   )

(p press-e
   =goal>
   isa goal
   key e
   =manual-state>
   isa module-state
   preparation free
   ==>
   +manual>
   isa press-key
   key "E"
   =goal>
   key nil
   )

(pm-install-device (open-exp-window "test" :visible nil))

#|
CG-USER(2): (pm-run 4)
 Time  0.000: Press-T Selected
 Time  0.050: Press-T Fired
 Time  0.050: Module :MOTOR running command PRESS-KEY
 Time  0.300: Module :MOTOR running command PREPARATION-COMPLETE
 Time  0.300: Press-H Selected
 Time  0.350: Module :MOTOR running command INITIATION-COMPLETE
 Time  0.350: Press-H Fired
 Time  0.350: Module :MOTOR running command PRESS-KEY
 Time  0.450: Device running command OUTPUT-KEY

<< Window "test" got key #\t at time 450 >>

 Time  0.550: Module :MOTOR running command PREPARATION-COMPLETE
 Time  0.550: Press-E Selected
 Time  0.600: Module :MOTOR running command FINISH-MOVEMENT
 Time  0.600: Press-E Fired
 Time  0.600: Module :MOTOR running command PRESS-KEY
 Time  0.650: Module :MOTOR running command INITIATION-COMPLETE
 Time  0.750: Device running command OUTPUT-KEY

<< Window "test" got key #\h at time 750 >>

 Time  0.800: Module :MOTOR running command PREPARATION-COMPLETE
 Time  0.900: Module :MOTOR running command FINISH-MOVEMENT
 Time  0.950: Module :MOTOR running command INITIATION-COMPLETE
 Time  1.050: Device running command OUTPUT-KEY

<< Window "test" got key #\e at time 1050 >>

 Time  1.200: Module :MOTOR running command FINISH-MOVEMENT
 Time  1.200: Checking for silent events.
 Time  1.200: * Nothing to run:  No productions, no events.
1.2
1.2

|#




From ja+ at cmu.edu  Wed Oct  6 13:53:09 2004
From: ja+ at cmu.edu (John Anderson)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 13:53:09 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] ACT-R web site
Message-ID: <p05210602bd89d54155ce@[128.2.249.45]>

Colleagues:

We have more or less completed our efforts to update the ACT-R web 
site to reflect the events of the summer.  I encourage you to go 
there, see the new baby picture, and make sure you are accurately 
reflected there.  We would be interested to hear from you:

If you are not listed there and want to be.
If you are listed there and don't want to be.
If your institutional listing is correct.
If there are other people at your institution that should (or 
shouldn't) be listed.
If there are papers of yours that we have missed or papers that we 
should not list.
If the papers listed with you are accurately categorized.
If there are other links or news that we should include.
And anything else you think we should be made aware of.

Thanks,
John
-- 

==========================================================

John R. Anderson
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-268-2788
Fax:     412-268-2844
email: ja at cmu.edu
URL:  http://act.psy.cmu.edu/



From sean.zuzu at gmail.com  Wed Oct 13 13:50:40 2004
From: sean.zuzu at gmail.com (zuzu)
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 13:50:40 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Fwd: John Anderson talk this Friday
In-Reply-To: <430ec66204101211254b53f9d2@mail.gmail.com>
References: <E53C9AEE-1C7B-11D9-83EE-000A959831C4@rpi.edu>
	 <430ec66204101211254b53f9d2@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <a988e9f604101310502c2c275f@mail.gmail.com>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Il-Young Son <soni at rpi.edu>
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:24:03 -0400
Subject: Fwd: John Anderson talk this Friday
To: il.young.son at gmail.com

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Birsen Yazici" <yazici at ecse.rpi.edu>
> Date: October 12, 2004 2:19:02 PM EDT
> To: "Il-Young Son" <soni at rpi.edu>
> Subject: Fw: John Anderson talk this Friday
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 1:17 PM
> Subject: John Anderson talk this Friday
>
>
> 2004 -05
>
> CORE DEBATES IN COGNITIVE SCIENCE
>
> How to Build Smart Machines!
>
> John Anderson
>
> How to Make ACT-R
> A
> Smart Human
>
>
> Friday, October 15
> 4:00 p.m.
> Sage Laboratory 4101
>
>
> John Anderson, Professor of Psychology and Computer Science at
> Carnegie Mellon University and creator of the leading computational
> system for simulating human thought (the cognitive architecture
> ACT-R), will focus on how one might improve ACT-R in accord with the
> criteria Anderson & Lebiere proposed for the Newell Test.  He will
> begin with a review of ACT-R theory and the web of evidence that
> supports it and go on to review the assessment Anderson & Lebiere gave
> of ACT-R vs. connectionism regarding a set of functional criteria for
> human-level intelligence set forth by Allen Newell.  Professor
> Anderson argues that those among the Newell functionalities on which
> ACT-R or other cognitive theories have done well are ones that do not
> distinguish humans from other primates.  Finally, he will discuss what
> he and his colleagues have done and hope to do to get ACT-R to address
> the Newell functionalities that are unique to humans.
>
>
>
>  QUESTIONS?
>
> Contact Heather Hewitt, hewith at rpi.edu
>
> Jim Fahey, faheyj2 at rpi.edu
> Department of Cognitive Science
> Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
> 110 8th Street | Troy, NY 12180-3590  USA
> Carnegie Building | Phone (518) 276-6272 | Fax (518) 276-3017
>
> Heather Hewitt
> Assistant to the Chair
> Department of Cognitive Science
> Carnegie Bldg. 312
> Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
> hewitt at rpi.edu
> (518) 276-6472
>



From ja+ at cmu.edu  Thu Oct 21 09:06:38 2004
From: ja+ at cmu.edu (John Anderson)
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 09:06:38 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Post doctoral position
Message-ID: <p05210604bd9d61937497@[128.2.249.45]>

We are looking for a post-doctoral student to work on a project 
modeling the acquisition of high school algebra.  The goal of the 
project is to give a model that background knowledge that a beginning 
algebra student might have and have it learn given the instructional 
interaction that a student might receive.  While the modeling is the 
core of the project, other aspects extend to formalizing the learning 
environment and matching human data including fMRI data.

If you are interested please contact me.
-- 

==========================================================

John R. Anderson
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-268-2788
Fax:     412-268-2844
email: ja at cmu.edu
URL:  http://act.psy.cmu.edu/



From rwilson+ at pitt.edu  Thu Oct 21 20:15:32 2004
From: rwilson+ at pitt.edu (roy wilson)
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 20:15:32 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] An ACT-R oriented reaction to Clancey's SItuated Cognition discussion
 of memory, representations, etc.
Message-ID: <41785124.9040807@pitt.edu>

I am just starting to read Clancey's book, am a bit startled by some of 
his assertions, and I wonder whether anyone specifically "in" the ACT-R 
community has commented on the book. It would be nice to read the 
comments and the book "together". I see some discussion of situated 
cognition in a 2002 issue of Cognitive Systems Research, but thought it 
might be more efficient to go to the source.

Roy Wilson
Learning Research Development Center
University of Pittsburgh



From markus.eklund at gmail.com  Fri Oct 22 17:57:12 2004
From: markus.eklund at gmail.com (Markus Eklund)
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 14:57:12 -0700
Subject: [ACT-R-users] ACT-R: Prior knowledge measurement
Message-ID: <d10f93b904102214575a2834b5@mail.gmail.com>

Hi,

I am a graduate student at San Diego State University (Educational
Technology department) where I am conducting a Master's Thesis on
Prior knowledge as it relates to the concept of Transactional
Distance; see end of e-mail for the concept description.

I would like to use the Activation Equation (and several others) in my
study but have some questions:

1.  Given that I do not neccessarily know the background of my
students (e.g. I can't easily estimate the evolution of knowledge and
performance through presentations), how can I measure Bi?  Is there
anyone out there who has already developed/validated instruments (I am
only interested in the cognitive module) for this?

2. When looking at individual differences, I have read studies in
which differences in skill acquisition are influenced by architectural
factors.  But is anyone researching/modeling the how initial
differences in declarative and procedural memory (including problem
solving strategies) influence skill acquisition?

3. Does the 'Integrated Theory of the Mind' paper list all the
fundamental equations in ACT-R?

Thanks for the assistance,

Markus Eklund


PS: 

Transactional Distance: Is a function of the variance in dialogue and
structure as they related to each other; therefore, 'distance' in
education is not deteremined by geographic proximity (as anyone in a
large lecture hall receiving a lecture knows), but by the level and
rate of dialogue and structure.

One of my hypothesis' is that 'there is an inverse relationship
(possibly also an exponential relationship depending on how the dialog
is structured) between the level of prior knowledge and transactional
distance.

For more details on Transactional Distance, see Saba, F. & Shearer, R.
1994. Verifying Key Theoretical Concepts in a Dynamic Model of
Distance Education.  American Journal of Distance Education.



From ja+ at cmu.edu  Wed Oct 27 08:15:46 2004
From: ja+ at cmu.edu (John Anderson)
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 08:15:46 -0400
Subject: [ACT-R-users] ACT-R 2005 Workshop in Trieste, July 15-17
Message-ID: <p0521062ebda53e8271a3@[128.2.249.45]>

Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce the the 2005 ACT-R Workshop will be in 
Trieste, hosted by Danilo Fum.   The last day will be July 17, the 
Sunday before Cognitive Science in Stresa (which begins July 21). 
More information will follow as details are worked out.  However, we 
wanted to get the information out now in response to requests from 
some who wanted to plan their travels.

The ACT-R Summer School will be held in Pittsburgh in June.  The 
dates are still to be worked out.

--John
-- 

==========================================================

John R. Anderson
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-268-2788
Fax:     412-268-2844
email: ja at cmu.edu
URL:  http://act.psy.cmu.edu/



From Kevin.Gluck at mesa.afmc.af.mil  Fri Oct 29 17:52:46 2004
From: Kevin.Gluck at mesa.afmc.af.mil (Kevin.Gluck at mesa.afmc.af.mil)
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 14:52:46 -0700
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Senior Scientist Position Available
Message-ID: <671474002216D14B8D440C71877F9A8D44C7FE@FSQBGE07.williams.afmc.ds.af.mil>

All,

 

Please see the attachment for information about a Senior Scientist position
available at Wright-Patterson AFB.  They are specifically interested in
hiring someone with a strong international reputation in cognitive modeling,
HCI, cognitive engineering, decision making, and/or decision support
systems.

 

If you are interested in this position and consider yourself qualified for
it, please contact ...

 

          Dr. Kenneth R. Boff, ST

            Chief Scientist, Human Effectiveness Directorate

            (937) 255-6327

            ken.boff at wpafb.af.mil

 

If you know someone else who may be interested and qualified, please forward
this announcement.

 

Thank you,

 

Kevin

 

-------------------------------------------------------

Kevin A. Gluck, PhD

Research Psychologist

Air Force Research Laboratory

6030 S. Kent St. 

Mesa, AZ  85212-6061

 

Ph:  480-988-6561 x-234 / DSN 474-6234

Cell: 480-229-4569

Fax: 480-988-6285

 

PALM Lab Website: http://www.mesa.afmc.af.mil/html/palmlab.htm
<http://www.mesa.afmc.af.mil/html/palmlab.htm> 

 

"Anyone with an idea whose time has come can accomplish anything provided
they are willing to work hard enough."

            - Cecil Burney

 

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